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A note on the repeatability of parameters of the lactation curve in cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

P. D. P. Wood
Affiliation:
Milk Marketing Board, Thames Ditton, Surrey
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Summary

A study of 1567 lactations of 336 Friesian cows in 10 herds has been undertaken to establish to what extent the shape of the lactation curve varies between parities, cows and herds, and to assess the importance of variations in seasonality from year to year, with particular reference to herd production forecasts.

In general, cows calving the same parity at the samé time of year showed similar curves, modified only by total yield and abnormal seasonality of production. Production forecasts based on month/parity subclasses are therefore adequate, provided due account is taken of extréme variations in weather conditions or forage growth.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1970

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References

REFERENCES

Sanders, H. G. 1930. The analysis of the lactation curve into maximum yield and persis-tency. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 20: 145185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, P. D. P. 1968. Factors affecting persistency of lactation in cattle. Nature, Lond. 218: 894.Google Scholar
Wood, P. D. P. 1969. Factors affecting the shape of the lactation curve in cattle. Anim. Porf. 11: 307316.Google Scholar