What is the best first-calving age of cows in robotic milking farms?

Ilhan G., ÇAVUŞOĞLU E., ORMAN A.

ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, vol.21, no.1, pp.324-330, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 21 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/1828051x.2022.2031319
  • Journal Name: ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Page Numbers: pp.324-330
  • Keywords: Robotic milking, first-calving age, milk production, reproductive parameters, longevity, HOLSTEIN DAIRY-COWS, REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE, CALVING INTERVAL, PRODUCTIVE LIFE, YIELD, HERDS, FERTILITY, LACTATION, LONGEVITY, LENGTH
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of first-calving age (FCA) on yield parameters and productive life in dairy farms using a robotic milking system in Turkey. The cows (n = 1579) were divided into five groups (24, 25, 26, 27, 28 months and above FCA. The average milk yield was highest in 24 months of FCA (9140.31 +/- 145.55 kg) and was lowest in 27 months of FCA (8534.55 +/- 131.00 kg) (p < .05). The average service period length in the first lactation was longer in cows of 28 months old (158.92 +/- 7.28 days) than 26 and 27 months (131.96 +/- 4.45and 130.51 +/- 54.97 days respectively) old groups (p < .05). A number of lactations of cows that were 26 months old (2.52 +/- 0.09) at FCA was higher than those FCA was 24 months and 28 months (2.03 +/- 0.15 and 2.18 +/- 0.09 respectively) (p < .05). Replacement rates were not differing statistically at different lactations. The most frequent reasons for culling were mastitis and reproduction in all groups. As a result, cows in 24 months of FCA had no undesirable results in terms of milk yield, service period, number of insemination per lactation.