Effects of parity, stage of lactation and culling reason on the commercial carcass weight of French Holstein cows

By Bareille, N. and Beaudeau, F. and Seegers, H., Livestock Production Science, 1998
Research Paper Web Link / URL:
Description
Data were collected on 4546 Holstein cows culled from 79 French commercial herds during 1989 to 1994. Average net carcass weight was 309.4ยค35.7 kg. The carcass weights of cows culled during the first lactation were lower than those of multiparous cows (299.0 and 312.7 kg, respectively). Adjusted effects of calving-to-culling interval on carcass weight were larger in primiparous than in multiparous cows. In primiparous cows, carcass weight increased with age at first calving (P<0.001). Locomotor disorders, accidents and health disorders (other than reproductive and udder disorders) were associated with lower carcass weights (P<0.001). Infertility as a culling reason was associated with the highest carcass weights. The existence of a fattening period was associated with a 19-20 kg increase in carcass weight. A large variation between farms was also noted
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