Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-cphqk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-07T17:37:21.105Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A comparison of the productive, reproductive and body condition score traits of the Simmental, Brown Swiss and Tyrol Grey breeds in smallholder herds in Kosovo

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

H. Bytyqi ,
G. Klemetsdal ,
J. Ødegård ,
H. Mehmeti  and
M. Vegara
H. Bytyqi
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock and Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture Faculty of Prishtina, University of Prishtina; Rr. “Lidhja e Pejes” 38000, Prishtina, Kosovo
G. Klemetsdal
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), P.O. Box 5025, N-1432 Aas, Norway
J. Ødegård
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), P.O. Box 5025, N-1432 Aas, Norway
H. Mehmeti
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock and Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture Faculty of Prishtina, University of Prishtina; Rr. “Lidhja e Pejes” 38000, Prishtina, Kosovo
M. Vegara
Affiliation:
Noragric, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Aas, Norway
Get access

Summary

After the war in Kosovo, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank implemented an Emergency Farm Restocking Project, by allocating Simmental, Brown Swiss and Tyrol Grey heifers, 4–7 months pregnant, to farmers at the rate of one per farm. Data was monitored over a period of 14–16 months and the results showed that Brown Swiss had the highest milk production, while Tyrol Grey did worst. However, Tyrol Grey had the shortest service period and also changed the body condition score postpartum less than the other two breeds, making it best fitted of the three, to the extensive environment in Kosovo. Breeds were compared by growth rate, but this comparison was deemed highly inadequate as breeds with a high growth rate normally reach maturity at a high weight, and so need intensive feeding. Considering the extensive production environment in Kosovo, our results suggest that dairy cattle production should be based on a smaller breed, well adapted to the diet offered

Résumé

Après la guerre du Kosovo, la FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) et la Banque Mondiale ont mis en place un programme d'urgence pour le réapprovisionnement des fermes. Il s'est agi de fournir pour chacune des fermes du programme une génisse gravide de 4 à 7 mois appartenant à une des trois races suivantes : Simmental, Brown Swiss ou Tyrol Grey. Diverses données de production ont ensuite été collectées sur une période de 14 à 16 mois. Les résultats des analyses ont montré que la Brown Swiss présentait la meilleure production laitière et la Tyrol Grey la plus mauvaise. Cependant, cette dernière a la durée de service la plus courte et son score de composition corporelle est moins variable que les deux autres races, ce qui la rend plus adaptée aux conditions d'exploitation extensives du Kosovo. Les races ont également été comparées pour leur taux de croissance, mais la prise en compte de ce paramètre est jugée particulièrement inappropriée dans la mesure où les individus de race à fort taux de croissance arrivent à maturité à un poids élevé et donc nécessitent des conditions intensives d'alimentation. Ainsi, en considérant les conditions de production extensive du Kosovo, nos résultats indiquent qu'il est préférable pour l’élevage bovin laitier de s'appuyer sur des races de petit format, plus adaptées au régime alimentaire offert.

Keywords

Body condition scoringDairy cattleGrowth rateMilk productionNon-return rateService period
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 37 , April 2005 , pp. 9 - 20
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

List of References

Anderesen-Ranberg, I.M., Klemetsdal, G.,. Heringstad, B., & Steine, T.. 2005. Heritabilities, genetic correlations, and genetic change for female fertility and protein yield in Norwegian dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 88: 348–355.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Averdunk, G., Aumann, J.., Thaler, G. & Gierdziewicz, M.. 1995. Sire evaluation for fertility and calving easy in Germany. Interbull open meeting, Prague, 7–8 September.Google Scholar
Butler, W.R & Smith, R.D.. 1989. Interrelationships between energy balance and postpartum reproductive function in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 1989, 72, 767–783.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cattle breeding in Austria, 1200 (Ed). 2003. Zentrale Arbeitsgemeinschaft Osterrichischer Rinderzuchter. Universumstrabe 33/8, Wien, Ausgabe, pp. 32–55.Google Scholar
Edmonson, A.J., Lean, I.J.., Weaver, L.D.., Farver, T. & Webster, G.. 1989. A body condition scoring chart for Holstein dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 72: 68–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Geay, Y & Robelin, J.. 1979. Variation of meat production capacity in cattle due to genotype and level of feeding: genotype-nutrition interaction, Livest. Prod. Sci. 6 (1979) 263–276CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kodderitzsch, S. & Veillerette, B.. 1999. Kosovo: Re-launching the rural economy. A medium term reconstruction and recovery program. ECSSD environmentally and socially sustainable development. The World Bank working paper no. 19.Google Scholar
Kosovo Hydrometeorology Institute. 2001. Shqyrtimi Multidisiplinar I Mundesive Zhvillimore te Kosoves, Akademia e Shkencave dhe e Arteve te Kosoves, Seksioni Shkencave te Natyres, pp. 201–220.Google Scholar
Rinder production in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. (Ed). 2001. Ausgabe 2002. pp. 38–86Google Scholar
SAS Insitute Inc. 1999. The GLM Procedure. In SAS/STAT User's Guide Version 8, Cary, NC: SAS Institut Inc.Google Scholar
Schmidt, G.H. 1989. Effect of length of calving on income over feed and variable cost. J. Dairy Sci. 72: 1605–1611CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schultz-Rajalla, P.J., & Frazer, G.S.. 2003. Reproductive performance in Ohio dairy herds in the 1990s. Animal Reproductive Science 76: 127–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grauvieh, Tiroler. 1999. The Tyrol Grey: Juwel der Berge/hrsg. Vom Tiroler Grauviehzuchtverband. - Ed. Lowenzahn 1999. ISBN 3–7066–2199–1, pp: 38–56.Google Scholar
Van der Lende, T. 1998. Physiological aspects of reproduction and fertility in dairy cows. In: Proc. Int. Workshop. Genet. Impr. Funct. Traits in Cattle: Fertility and Reproduction Group, Germany, Interbull Bulletin 18, 1998, 99 33–39.Google Scholar