Effects of body condition score on milk yield and calf birth weight in dairy cattle
| dc.authorid | 0000-0001-7074-8573 | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kayar, Tamer | |
| dc.contributor.author | Erzurum, Onur | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-09-15T06:17:09Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-09-15T06:17:09Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.department | Veteriner Fakültesi | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study investigated the effects of pre-calving body condition scores (BCS) on milk yield and calf birth weights in pregnant Holstein heifers. For this purpose, data from 66 primiparous heifers, their first lactation milk yields, and the birth weights of 66 calves born from these heifers were analyzed. Two different rations consisting of concentrate feed and roug- hage with 36% HP and 1718 kcal/kg ME were used in the feeding of the animals pre- and post-calving. Approximately three weeks pre- calving, the heifers were classified into three groups based on their BCS as low (BCS ≤ 3.00), moderate (BCS 3.25 ≤ 3.50), and high (BCS ≥3.75). To determine changes in body condition, a second scoring was performed immediately post-calving. The differences between pre- and post-calving BCS values were calculated, and the BCS changes for each animal were identified. The effects of these changes on milk yield and calf birth weight were statistically analyzed using one- way analysis of variance (ANOVA). According to the results, BCS at calving had no significant effect on 305-day adjusted lactation milk yield (p>0.05). Additionally, pre-calving BCS and post-calving BCS changes did not affect calf birth weights (p>0.05). However, the findings indicated that a post-calving BCS loss of 0.50–0.75 points significantly increased milk yield (p<0.05). This finding suggests that controlled energy mobilization in early lactation may support milk production. Therefo- re, properly planned transition period rations are thought to be essential for ensuring herd health and increasing milk yield. | |
| dc.identifier.doi | 10.31797/vetbio.1638660 | |
| dc.identifier.endpage | 65 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2548-1150 | |
| dc.identifier.issue | 1 | |
| dc.identifier.startpage | 60 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.org/10.31797/vetbio.1638660 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12451/14381 | |
| dc.identifier.volume | 10 | |
| dc.indekslendigikaynak | TR-Dizin | |
| dc.institutionauthor | Kayar, Tamer | |
| dc.institutionauthorid | 0000-0002-4011-1050 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | İlker ÇAMKERTEN | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | Journal of Advances in VetBio Science and Techniques | |
| dc.relation.publicationcategory | Makale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı | |
| dc.rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess | |
| dc.subject | Birth Weight | |
| dc.subject | Body Condition Score | |
| dc.subject | Holstein | |
| dc.subject | Milk Yield | |
| dc.subject | Pregnant Heifer | |
| dc.title | Effects of body condition score on milk yield and calf birth weight in dairy cattle | |
| dc.type | Article |
