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A model for the prediction of dairy cow body weight based on a physiological timescale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

S. Devir ,
B. Zur ,
E. Maltz ,
A. Genizi  and
A. Antler
S. Devir
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural Engineering, ARO, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
B. Zur
Affiliation:
The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
E. Maltz
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural Engineering, ARO, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
A. Genizi
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics and Operational Research, ARO, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
A. Antler
Affiliation:
The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
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Summary

A multivariate linear model was developed to evaluate dairy cow body weight (BW) during lactation on a commercial dairy farm. The model was calibrated separately for first, second and greater than second parities, and also for winter and summer calvers, fed a total mixed ration of 65% concentrates. Average weekly BW was predicted using the following variables on a weekly basis: 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield, time of conception (PREG), time from calving (w), initial body weight (1BW) measured within 2 days after calving, and weeks remaining until the end of the calving season (SWR). The ability of the model to predict mean BW along lactations was tested in the same herd following calibration and during the same period. The prediction capacity of the model for average BW of groups of cows was examined on two timescales: (i) time from calving (physiological timescale) and (ii) any time during the year (calendar timescale). Results indicated that predicted mean BW deviated from measured values either by 1–2% with a maximal deviation of c. 5% on the physiological timescale or by up to 2% on the calendar timescale.

Type
Animals
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 125 , Issue 3 , December 1995 , pp. 415 - 424
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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