A study of lactation curves of imported Friesian cattle in a tropical environment

Abstract

In 586 normal lactations of 150 Friesian cattle maintained at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, from 1968 to 1983, maximum milk production was attained in the fifth week of lactation. The fourth and sixth lactation curves showed superiority over the first, second, third and fifth. The curves apparently indicate that culling of unproductive animals before the 6th lactation could be economically unreasonable.