Performance of Black-and-White cows imported from the Netherlands and Germany compared to cows bred in Poland.

摘要

The aim of this study was to compare the milk and reproductive performance of primiparous cows imported from the Netherlands (group 1, n=88) and Germany (group 2, n=42) with cows bred in Poland (group 3, n=53), managed on a large-scale farm. Milk urea concentration and somatic cell count were also compared. Cows of group 1 were characterized by having the highest milk yield (6874 kg), fat (272.9 kg) and protein (226.8 kg) in the first 305-day lactation. Cows in group 2 had an intermediate milk yield (6580 kg) and the lowest milk fat and protein contents (3.88 and 3.27%) and yield (255.3 and 215.2 kg). Significant differences were confirmed between groups 1 and 3 for milk yield, and between groups 1 and 2 as well as between groups 1 and 3 for fat and protein yields (p<=0.05). Milk urea content on the first 9 test-days was lowest in group 1 and highest in group 3 (213.7 and 225.1 mg/litre; p<=0.01); whereas somatic cell count was also lowest in group 1 and highest in group 2 (399 000 and 546 000 cells/ml; p0.01). Age at first calving was significantly (p<=0.01) lower in group 1 (790.7 days) than in groups 2 (871.7 days) and 3 (858.5 days). Calving interval was longest in group 1, and shortest in group 2 (151.6 and 113.4 days; p<=0.01). The results of this study indicate that importing Black-and-White cows from the Netherlands for their management in large-scale farming conditions is justified, whereas importing animals from Germany does not guarantee a competitive effect when compared to animals bred in Poland..