Effects of Calving Ease-Calf Survival on Production and Reproduction in Holsteins

Abstract

Data on 23,873 Holstein cows on official test of the Quebec Dairy Herd Analysis Service were analyzed for effects of calving ease-calf survival on cow productivity; data on 35,773 Holstein cows were analyzed for effects on culling and reproductive efficiency. Traits were milk, fat, and protein yields, percent fat and protein for 90-day and 305-day lactations, days from calving to first service and conception, percentage conception rate from first service, and services per conception. The effect of calving ease-calf survival on production traits was not significant in most cases except surgical calvings associated with stillbirth. For these the loss of 305-day production was approximately 300 to 500 kg milk, 8 to 17 kg fat, and 8 to 14 kg protein. Stillbirth in nonsurgical calvings was associated with lower production than when the calf survived; differences were 100 to 400 kg milk, 4 to 11.5 kg fat, and 2.5 to 13 kg protein. Age of cow and calving ease-calf survival significantly affected all measures of reproductive efficiency. Reproductive efficiency declined with advancing age. Effect of calving ease-calf survival tended to be more pronounced when calving was associated with stillbirth. © 1984, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.