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The timing of parturition in dairy cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Sandra A. Edwards
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Beading, Reading, Berkshire

Summary

The time of parturition was recorded for 522 Friesian cows. Calvings were evenly distributed throughout the 24 hours with no bias towards day or night calving. Cows about to enter their third or subsequent lactation, but not younger cows, showed a significantly lower incidence of calving during the hours when milking was occurring. Possible mechanisms which would account for this rinding are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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