Productive and reproductive evaluation of holsteins and Brown swiss x Holstein in Ecuador

Abstract

Evaluate productive and reproductive parameters of two dairy cattle genotypes: pure Holstein Friesian (HF) and a cross between ½ Brown Swiss and ½Holstein Friesian (BS*HF), It was the purpose of this research. It was conducted in the Santa Catalina Experimental Station of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP), lacated in the Cutulagua Parish of Mejia city, Pichincha province; northern highlands of Ecuador. Twenty multiparous cows were used, with a body condition 2.5 to 3.5, clinically healthy, disposed in two groups per genotype, C1: HF (n = 10), and C2: BS*HF (n = 10), and reproductive and productive individual parameters of each animal was evaluated for 7 years (2007 to 2014). In when analyzing reproductive variables significant differences were observed (P<0.05) only in the number of services per pregnancy (2.5±0.26 vs. 1.8±0.10, for HF and HF BS *, respectively), however in calving interval calving (ICC), days open (DOB) and age at first calving (AFC) no difference was found. However, in the analysis of production variables, significant differences (P <0.05) were observed only in birth weight (37.7±0.63 vs. 40.1±0.85 kg, HF and BS*HF, respectively), production per lactation (kg) and milk production / cow / day (liters) no difference was found. In conclusion, can we say that the behavior of the reproductive and productive parameters are the same in both genotypes, except number of services per pregnancy and weight of calf birth this gives us a guideline to strengthen studies with more number of undercross.