Performance of taurine x Gudali zebu crosses subjected to artificial suckling in the tropical highlands of Cameroon

Abstract

Calf genotype, sex of calf, year of birth, cow age at birth of calf, calf weaning age and calf birth date were analyzed to determine their effects on birth weight, pre-weaning average daily gain, weaning weight and adjusted weaning weight. These data were generated from three-quarter-bred Montbeliard (M3G1) and three-quarter-bred Holstein (H3G1) calves in the tropical highlands of Cameroon. Effects of calf genotype, year of birth and cow age at weaning significantly influenced growth and weaning weight traits. H3G1 calves were 10% significantly heavier than M3G1 calves at weaning. As expected, males tended to be heavier at birth and weaning than their female contemporaries. However, these differences were not statistically significant. This study further suggests that genetic (genotype) research needs to be carried out in combination with management (age of cow and year of calf birth) in order to optimize growth in dairy crosses in this environment.