The performance of crossbred cows available in milk pocket area of Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was conducted to know the productive and reproductive performance of different crossbred cows available in Baghabarighat milk pocket areas under Bangladesh Milk Produces Co-operative Union Limited (BMPCUL). A sample of 146 crossbred dairy cows (Sahiwal x local =112 and Holstein-Friesian x Sahiwal = 34) were selected and observed the productive performance i.e. milk yield and lactation length and the reproductive performances ie. average birth weight of calves, age at puberty, age at first calving, service per conception, postpartum heat period, gestation period, and calving interval. The study revealed that the productive and reproductive performances of HF x SL were better than that of SLx L crossbred cows. A selection program may be implemented to identify and fix the desirable high yielding genes in a particular selective line to improve the productive and reproductive performances of dairy cows in milk pocket areas of Bangladesh.