Original scientific paper
HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN CATTLE IN ALBANIA: 1. EFFECT OF THE PREGNANCY PERIOD IN ALBANIA ON THE LIVE WEIGHT OF FIRST CALVING COWS AND THE BIRTH-WEIGHT OF CALVES
K. Kume
; Zootechnical Research Institute Tirana, Republic of Albania
Y. Bicoku
; Director Animal Production Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Tirana, Republic of Albania
Abstract
Since some pregnant Holstein Friesian heifers were imported from Germany, a study has been conducted to show the effect ofthe prriod ofpregnancy, ocecuring under Albanian conditions, on the cows live weight and calves birth weight. Two herds were analyzed: the Xhafzotaj herd with proper feeding and management and the Valias herd with food feeding and management. The management and feeding of the animals were different and the reaction of the cows to those factors was different, too. In the Xhafzotaj herd, the effects of the period of pregnancy in Albania on the live weight of the cows and birth weight of calves was not significant. The average values of these factors were: 520.3 ± 3.6 and 35.4 ±0.4, respectively. In the Valias herd the effects of the period of pregnancy in Albania on the live weight of the cows and birth weight of calves was significant. The length of pregnancy period in Albania is accompanied by decrease of the calves birth-weight. The same decrease is seen in the live weight of the cows five days after their calving. The average values of these factors were 488.1± 3.1 and 30.0 ± 0.3 It may be concluded that when Holstein-friesian cows are put under unfavorable conditions concerning feeding and management, there is a tendency to transmit the stress to the foetus.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
162647
URI
Publication date:
20.1.1994.
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