Factors influencing lactation curve parameters in dairy farms

Abstract

The lactation curve parameters describing the shape of lactation curve were obtained using Ali and Schaeffer (ALI) model. For determining the effect of various factors affecting lactation curve parameters, least squares analysis was conducted. The results revealed that parity had significant influence on the increasing slope of lactation curve, indicating that cows in third parity produced more milk than other cows. Period (year) had no significant effect on any of the parameters, indicating that there was uniform management of the cows throughout the period of study. Non-significant effect of season of calving implied that the influence of climatic conditions was negligible under optimal feeding and management conditions and also animals had more adaptability to climatic variations. Breed had significant influence on the increasing slope of lactation curve. Farm had significant influence on parameters a, b and d, while age at first calving had no significant influence on any of the parameters.