Reproductive Performance and Milk Production of Girolando Cows in the Ranch of Kpinnou, South-West of Benin Republic

Abstract

Reproduction and milk production of Girolando cows raised in the ranch of Kpinnou were studied from 2005-2008. The traits recorded were: age at 1st calving (92 records), calving interval (205 records), daily milk yield, peak milk yield, lactation yield (205 records), lactation length and dry period. The fixed factors tested were rate of blood Gir, season of calving, lactation number, year of birth and year of calving. The overall mean of age at 1 st calving, calving interval, daily milk yield, peak milk yield, lactation yield, lactation length and dry period were respectively 35.3±0.4 months, 468±14 days, 7.2±0.2, 12.3±0.2, 1739±43 kg, 239±3 days and 229±8 days. The rate of blood Gir had a significant effect (p<0.05) on age at 1 st calving, daily milk yield and lactation yield but not significant (p>0.05) on peak milk yield, lactation length and dry period. Lactation number, season of calving and year of calving significantly affected (p<0.05) all studied traits. © Medwell Journals, 2011.