Some Non-Genetic Factors affecting Milk Production of Friesian Herds

Abstract

Records representing 3198 and 11100I Friesian cows from herds maintained at Egypt and Germany were analysed to determine the effects of parity, season and year of calving and farm on milk production. The least squares means of milk prOduction was 2875 +/- 15 and 6708 +/- 14 kg in Egyptian and German Friesian herds, respectively. Least squares analysis of variance showed significant effects (P<O.05 & P<O.O1) of all factors on milk production. Least squares analysis indicate that the winter and autumn seasons showed the highest milk yield producing cows, being 3052 and 2995 kg, respectively in Egypt, while in Germany, the autumn season had the highest milk production, while the lowest was in summer calvers, being 6903 and 6511 kg, respectively. It could be seen that there were significant differences between farms in Egypt as well as in German farms. German herds apparently had the highest milk production compared to the Egyptian Friesian herds.