L. Vaccaro et al., EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS AND BREED GROUP, AND THEIR INTERACTIONS ON PERFORMANCE OF VENEZUELAN DUAL-PURPOSE COWS, Tropical agriculture, 72(2), 1995, pp. 146-151
Records of milk yield, days open, and 120-day calf weight were obtaine
d from 1843 cows on four lowland tropical farms with different levels
of management and mean milk yields of 678, 822, 1010, and 2461 kg per
lactation. Three main breed groups were represented on each farm: zebu
type (Z), medium (M), and high (H) grade European-zebu crosses. The Z
cows had the fewest days open and highest calf weight. Overall, the Z
and M cows performed similarly, except on the farm with the highest m
ean milk yield, where the milk production of the M group was 16% highe
r. Although the Z group was probably somewhat selected, they were the
best types for environments where milk yields were avout 1000 ky per l
actation or less, but M cross-breds were more productive at the higher
level. The H cows showed no advantage on any farm for any of the trai
ts and their milk yield was adversely affected by calving in the rainy
season.