Productive and reproductive adaptations of Friesian cattle introduced to a suptropical environment

Beitr Trop Landwirtsch Veterinarmed. 1976;14(3):313-24.

Abstract

Various parameters were studied in imported and in local female cattle under the conditions in Iraq. The following results were obtained: The age at the first calving was lower in the animals imported in 1964 and 1965 than in the locally born cows. The age at the first calving in the daughter cows of the imported animals increased significantly by 1.6 months per year. The calving interval and the duration of the post-partum periods were longer in imported dams than in daughter cows. The gestation period was shorter in the imported dams than in the daughter cows. The lactation length and the dry period were longer in the imported dams than in their locally born daughters. The percentage of calves born during the life of all recorded cows in the studied herd was higher in the imported dams.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological*
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Climate*
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Iraq
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Animal
  • Reproduction*
  • Tropical Climate