Milk productivity, reproductive performance, hematological and clinical indicators of holstein, brown swiss, simmental, and jersey breeds of cows under Armenian agro-climatic conditions

L.M. Minasyan¹, H.R. Vardanyan¹, Zh.T. Chitchyan², M.H. Zadayan³*, J.T. Simonyan⁴, N.A. Shahazizyan¹, M.S. Mirzoyan¹ and L.L Simonyan¹

¹Scientific Centre for Risk Assessment and Analysis in Food Safety Area of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, 107/2 Masis Highway, Shengavit, AM0071 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
²Armenian National Agrarian University, Yerevan, Teryan 74, AM0009 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
³Center for Agricultural Research and Certification, State Non-Commercial Organization at the Ministry of Economy, Yerevanyan highway 2nd block, building 4, AM1139 Merdzavan, Republic of Armenia
⁴Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, Mher Mkrtchyan 5, AM0010 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
*Correspondence: mhzadayan@gmail.com

Abstract:

The research was conducted on the farms of ‘Himnatavush’ Foundation and ‘Agroholding Armenia’ LLC in the Tavush and Lori regions of the Republic of Armenia. This study aims to fill a research gap regarding the adaptability of elite dairy breeds in the South Caucasus under variable agro-climatic conditions. The scientific and practical goal of the work is to conduct, for the first time, a comparative study of the milk productivity, reproductive capacity, and hematological and clinical indicators of Holstein, Brown Swiss (Schwyz), Simmental, and Jersey cattle breeds imported into the Republic of Armenia from various European countries in recent years, as well as cows born and raised locally (local reproduction). The study is being carried out in two farms located in different agro-climatic zones of the Republic. At the farms of ‘Agroholding Armenia’ LLC and the ‘Himnatavush’ Foundation, the age at first calving of both imported full-grown cows of Holstein, Brown Swiss, Simmental, and Jersey breeds and their locally born and raised first-calf heifers corresponded to breed-specific norms. The service period for cows of all breeds exceeded the desirable range (80–90 days), ranging from 93.8 to 115.6 days. However, the reproductive capacity coefficient ranged between 92.9–97.3, which is considered a good indicator. Hematological and clinical parameters of all cows remained within physiological norms. Jersey cows exhibited slightly better adaptation markers. The study confirms the successful acclimatization of these breeds to Armenia’s diverse agro-climatic zones and supports the continued use of these high-yielding breeds for sustainable dairy development.

Key words:

adaptation traits, age at first calving, breed comparison, milk productivity, physiological indicators, reproductive traits

Lifetime milk productivity and quality in farms with different housing and feeding systems

L. Cielava¹,*, D. Jonkus¹ and L. Paura²

¹ Latvia University of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Agrobiotechnologies, Lielā 2, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
² Latvia University of Agriculture, Faculty of Information Technologies, Department of Control systems, Lielā 2, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
*Correspondence: lasma.cielava@llu.lv

Abstract:

Housing and feeding systems in farms are main factors that affects cow milk productivity and its quality. The largest proportion of Latvian farms are small farms with tie stall housing system and grazing in summer. The aim of our study was to determine to what extent different housing and feeding systems affect the milk productivity, quality and cow longevity characterizing traits of Latvian dairy cows. In study we analysed 3,179 Holstein Black and White (HBW) and Latvian Brown (LB) breed cows from which 2,383 were located in 2 farms with loose housing system and TMR feeding and 796 cows were located in 8 small farms with tie stall housing system and different feed in summer and winter periods. The average daily milk yield significantly higher (p < 0.05) were in farms with loose housing system – 23.53 kg ECM, but in farms with Tie stall housing system was obtained 18.46 kg ECM per day. HBW breed cows characterized with lower somatic cell count in milk than Latvian brown in both housing systems. The highest somatic cell count in milk was obtained from third lactation LB breed cows in Tie stall housing system (249.11 thous. in 1mL^-1 milk) and the lowest from HBW cows in loose housing system (127.57 thous. in 1m^L-1 milk). Cows in smaller farms characterized with longer lifespan – 2,098.7 and 1,890 days for large farms, but lifetime milk productivity was significantly higher in farms with loose housing system where was obtained 21,315.9 kg ECM whereas in Tie stall system farms average life productivity was 19,740.2 kg ECM.

Key words: