Effect of genetic and non-genetic factors on some productive and reproductive traits of Holstein cows in the middle of Iraq

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Al-Salam cows’ station for milk production located in Al-Latifiya sub- district - Al-Mahmudiyah district (25 km south of Baghdad governorate) on a sample of (180) Holstein cows imported from Germany by Taj Al-Nahrain company, to study the effect of the parity, season and calving year on total Milk Production (TMP), the lactation period (LP), calving interval (C.I), Services per conception (SPC)and to estimate the heritability of the studied traits. The results showed that the overall means of TMP and LP were 3172.53 kg and 237.09 days respectively. The parity effect on TMP in Holstein cows was highly significant. Total Milk production increased with the advance of parity and mostly reached its maximum value in the 4^th and 3^rd parity being 3305.87 kg and3286.35 kg per day, respectively. Season of calving has a highly significant effect on (TMP). Cows calved in spring had a higher milk production than those calved in other seasons. Season of calving had highly significant on services per conception. The result of the study showed the heritability value for TMP, LP, SPC and CL were 0.21 ,0.08 ,0.08 and 0.07 respectively.