Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Journal of Agriculture and Nature, cilt.25, sa.1, ss.300-306, 2022 (ESCI)
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dry period length (DPL) on survival rate, gender, growth performance, mortality of Holstein calves. Data belonged to 800 Holstein cows in different parities (2nd, 3rd and ≥4th) and 800 calves delivered by these cows. DPL were classified in 5 categories (≤40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, ≥71 days). Calves were weighed and body dimensions (body length, wither height, hearth girth) at birth and 6th months of age. There were significant relationships between DPL and calf gender (P<0.01). The cows with DPL of 51-60 days had greater female calf ratios and the cows with DPL of 61-70 days had greater male calf ratios. In the study, the relationship between calves' body weights (birth and 6th month) and DPL was found to be significant at P<0.01 level, and the relationship between body measurements (6th month body length 6th month wither height) and DPL was significant at P<0.05 level. These values the highest were observed in the calves of the cows with DPL 61-70 days. The relationship between calves survivability, mortality values and DPL was not significant (P>0.05). The results obtained from the study showed that the dry period length of the cows can be planned between 61-70 days, considering the body weight and growth performance of the calves.