Friesian, Hereford and Charolais sires for artificially reared calves from Friesian and Jersey cows

Abstract

Two hundred and twenty six multiparous Friesian and 185 multiparous Jersey cows on nine dairy farms were inseminated with semen from four bulls (one Friesian, one Hereford and two Charolais) and conception and calving data were recorded. There were no significant differences between sires or breed of dam with respect to still-births, calving difficulties or conception rates. Both sire and sex of calf significantly affected gestation period, sex in the case of Friesian cows, and sire in the case of Jersey cows. Breed of dam and sex of calf significantly affected birth weight, calves out of Friesian cows being heavier than those out of Jerseys, and male calves heavier than females. Calves were transported to the Research Centre and artificially reared using milk replacer and weaned onto a barley based concentrate ration at 6 weeks old. Rearing mortality was high, particularly in those calves sired by Charolais bulls. The major cause of death in these calves was a self starvation-scouring syndrome of undetermined cause. At 12 weeks old, sire had no significant effect on liveweight of calves out of Friesian cows, but did affect calves of Jersey cows. For male calves, those sired by the Friesian bull and Charolais number two were significantly heavier than those by Charolais number one and the Hereford. For female calves a similar result was obtained except that Charolais number one was also not statistically different from the Friesian and Charolais number two.