ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE ECONOMIC TRAITS IN SAHIWAL CATTLE AT ORGANIZED FARM

Abstract

A study was conducted on performance records of 1352 lactations from 462 Sahiwal cows, spread over a period of 15 years (1997-2011), maintained at Livestock Research Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. Data were analyzed by least squares technique to examine the effect of non-genetic factors on various economic traits in zebu cattle. Overall least squares means of Age at first calving (AFC), Service period (SP), 305 days or less milk yield (305DMY), Lactation length (LL), Dry period (DP) and Calving interval (CI) were 1136.14±10.48 days, 150.79±4.59 days, 1677.31±28.54 kg, 260.12±3.08 days, 165.80±4.35 days and 434.13±4.26 days respectively. Effect of season of birth was significant (P<0.05) on AFC; while effect of season of calving was significant (P<0.05) on SP, 305DMY, DP and CI. Period of birth had significant (P<0.05) influence on AFC; while period of calving had significant (P<0.05) effect on 305DMY, LL and DP. Significant (P<0.05) effect of parity was observed on SP, 305DMY, DP and CI. The findings of this study had shown that hot and humid season adversely affected the economic traits of Sahiwal cattle as compared to other seasons. Animals of first period (1997-1999) excelled in performance than those of other periods. Both productive and reproductive performances of pluriparous animals were found better than primiparous cows. The results of this study revealed that most of economic traits in zebu cattle significantly affected by environmental factors. Therefore management is an important criterion to improve both productive and reproductive performances in Sahiwal cows during adverse climatic conditions.