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Analysis of early survival of Holstein-Friesian heifers of diverse sire origins on commercial dairy farms in Kenya

Tropical Animal Health and Production volume 41, pages 171–181 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

The use of imported semen within the Holstein-Friesian cattle population in Kenya has contributed to increased milk production per cow, however, information on how this has impacted on functional traits, particularly early life survival and reproductive performance is scarce. This study evaluated age at first calving (AFC), survival to age at first calving, and survival to four years of age using survival analyses techniques, in Holstein-Friesian cattle on four dairy farms in Kenya. The heritability estimate obtained for AFC was 0.15 ± 0.06 for an average AFC of 1058 days. Animals sired by New Zealand and Australian born bulls had the earliest average AFC (907 days). On average, 25% of all the heifers born were culled prior to attaining a first calving, while 34% were culled prior to four years of age. Though the highest proportion of losses was due to unspecified reasons, the relative risk of being culled was highest when an animal had a specific disease, and the first 60 days of life were the most critical for survival. Daughters of sires from South-Africa and Israel tended to have better survival rates than those sired by bulls originating from other regions. Unfavourable selection towards animals sired by Kenyan born bulls was evident. The economic implications of the high rate of early mortality need to be evaluated in order to assist livestock producers make informed decisions on choice of sires for breeding.

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Abbreviations

AFC:

Age at first Calving

GxE:

Genotype by environment interaction

LSF:

Large Scale Farm

S-AFC:

Survival to first calving

S-1460:

Survival to 1460 days of age

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the Livestock farmers and the Kenya Livestock Breeders Organisation for availing data on their animals, and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI, Nairobi) and Egerton University (Njoro, Kenya) for provision of facilities and support to carry out the study. We also acknowledge the support and advice on use of the Survival Kit-V3.0 (Ducrocq and Sölkner 2005) by V. Ducrocq.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, P. O. Box 536, 20107, Njoro, Kenya

    D. K. Menjo, B. O. Bebe & J. M. K. Ojango

  2. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P. O. Box 30709, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    A. M. Okeyo & J. M. K. Ojango

Authors
  1. D. K. Menjo
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  2. B. O. Bebe
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  3. A. M. Okeyo
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  4. J. M. K. Ojango
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Correspondence to J. M. K. Ojango.

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Menjo, D.K., Bebe, B.O., Okeyo, A.M. et al. Analysis of early survival of Holstein-Friesian heifers of diverse sire origins on commercial dairy farms in Kenya. Trop Anim Health Prod 41, 171–181 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9172-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9172-z

Keywords

  • Early survival
  • Holstein-Friesian cattle
  • Imported semen
  • Tropics

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