Borgu Cow Fertility in Benin: Effect of Age at First Calving on Calving Intervals

Abstract

Data collected on the farm of Kokoubou’s monastery (department of Borgu in Benin) were used to study the age at first calving and calving intervals in Borgu cows. From 1967 to 1989, 91 ages at first calving and 524 calving intervals were used. Mean age at first calving was 1122 ± 257 days (37.4 ± 7.9 months, i.e. 3 years and 26 days), and the mean calving interval was 450 ± 132 days (14.8 ± 4.4 months, i.e. one year and 2.8 months). The effect of age at first calving on calving intervals was highly significant (p < 0.001), but with a low correlation coefficient (r = 0.22).