Evaluation of Lactation and Performance of Friesian Cow in Local Environment of Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

Madiha Khalil1, Amjad Farooq1, Asim Faraz2*, Abdul Waheed2, Nasir Ali Tauqir3, Riaz Hussain Mirza2 and Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq2 1Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan 2Department of Livestock and Poultry Production, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan 3Department of Animal Science, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan Article Information Received 28 March 2019 Revised 28 April 2020 Accepted 28 October 2020 Available online 07 December 2021 (early access)

The present study was conducted in order to analyze lactation performance of Friesian cattle in the local environment of Quetta, Pakistan and to evaluate non-genetic factors affecting the lactation traits. For this purpose, data on lactation performance of Holstein Friesian cows were collected from government livestock farms located at Quetta. Data obtained on calving from 608 cows during last sixteen years (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016) were analyzed. After editing the data for consistency and errors it was subjected to statistical analysis using fixed effect models. Independent variables were year of birth, season of birth, year of calving, season of calving and parity. Age of animal (linear and quadratic effects) and lactation period were fitted as co-variables. Dependent variables were lactation performance traits (lactation milk yield, dry period, etc.). The results of all traits showed that the year of calving had a highly significant (p<0.01) effect on lactation length, month of calving and parity. Lactation milk yield was significantly affected by year of calving (p<0.01) and month of calving (p<0.05) while parity had a non-significant (p˃0.05) effect. Milk yield over 305 days was significantly (p<0.05) affected by year and month of calving, while parity had a non-significant (p˃0.05) effect. Similarly, year of calving and month of calving had a highly significant (p<0.01) effect on dry period which is non-significantly (p˃0.05) affected by parity. G eographically Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan; having social and cultural variations. Balochistan contains 44% of the national sheep population and smaller number of cows and buffalo due to which dairy production is low in this province (GOP, 2008-09). In 1977-78, the Livestock and Dairy Development Department Government of Balochistan decided to import the non-native cattle breeds to overcome the shortage of milk. For this purpose, Holstein Friesian cattle was imported from Denmark. About 175 pregnant heifers and 2 bulls were imported and stationed at Government Dairy Farm Quetta in order to breed non-native dairy cattle under different climatic conditions.
Inspite of the import of non-native cattle breeds over thirty years, it is estimated that the desired production is not achieved up till now (Afzal and Naqvi, 2004). The main objective of this study is to evaluate the potentials, problems and solutions concerning the dairy industry in Pakistan O n l i n e F i r s t A r t i c l e using following mathematical models: Y (ijklm) = YOC (i) +SOC (j) +LL (k) +Age (l) +Age 2 + YOC Ԑ SOC (IJ) .+Ԑ (ijklm) where Y ijklm is lactation performance recorded, YOC (i) is I th year of calving, SOC (j) is j th season of calving, YOC SOC (ij) is interaction of i th and j th year of calving, LL (k) is k th length of lactation related to any milk or lactation performance recorded, Age (l) is age of the animal at time of calving recorded in months, Age 2 is quardatic effects of age of animal (as both linear and quadratic effects of age are usually used in such models mostly as covariables), E ijklmn is random error associated with each observation.
Preliminary descriptive analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Further analysis was conducted using ASREML software.
Different models were applied and finally one model was reached for optimum results for all traits. LL was both treated as dependent variable in milk traits and independent variable as well. Parity remained non-significant in all models so it was excluded ultimately.

F i r s t A r t i c l e
Non-genetic factors like year of calving (YOC), month of calving (MOC) and parity also have different effects on the lactation traits. LMY was significantly (p<0.01) affected by year of calving and month of calving while parity influenced non-significantly (p>0.05) on this lactation trait. Similarly, year of calving and month of calving also significantly (p<0.01) affected the lactation length. In this case parity showed non-significant (p>0.05) effect as in previous trait. Milk yield 305 days and dry period was significantly (p<0.01) affected by year of calving and month of calving. Parity has non-significant (p>0.05) effect on both traits.
The relationship between fixed factors and lactation performance could be used to increase production. For example, if year of calving had a positive effect on milk yield, we can use this relationship in practice to increase milk yield by adopting the management practices to inseminate the animal regarding our desired calving year. Month of calving and year of calving has significant effect on milk yield, hence the husbandry practices could be adopted for fruitful gains.
Supplementary Table I gives study conditions, parameters investigated and findings from literature data by different researchers to have a deep look on productive performance of crossbred and exotic cattle.

Conclusion
Non-native cattle breeds imported and kept at Balochistan at different locations are performing well regarding production. The climate in Quetta is cool, humid and temperate so these climatic conditions are favoring the production potential exploitation. Better performance of dairy cattle could be achieved by modern husbandry practices, nutritional manipulations and proper disease control. By adopting these manipulations, we can attain the desired effects of YOC, MOC, SOC and age of the cow to increase milk production.

O n l i n e F i r s t A r t i c l e
Evaluation of Lactation and Performance of Friesian Cow in Local Environment of Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan Afridi, 1999 To analyze productive performance of Holstein-Friesian cattle in NWFP The overall performance of imported Holstein-Friesian was better than local born Holstein-Friesian. The milk yield and lactation length were maximum in autumn. Javed et al., 2004 To study environmental factors affecting milk yield in Friesian cows in Punjab The milk yield ↑ with ↑ in lactation length, yet it did not seem advantageous to have lactations exceeding one year. The daily milk yield in the later stages of lactation ↓ and hence affects the lifetime production. Moreover, longer lactations prolong the calving interval, thereby decreasing the number of calves that could be obtained during the life span of a cow. Sattar et al., 2005 To investigate productive and reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian cows in Pakistan The reproductive and productive performance of Holstein-Friesian herd at Bhunikey is declining gradually, indicating that the managemental practices at the farm need to be improved for better reproductive and productive performance of the herd. Dabdoub, 2009 To check milk production and reproductive efficiency in Friesian and Friesian×Sharabi cows For improving efficiency in Friesian and crossbreed cattle, it is necessary that functional traits interms of reproductive efficiency and age at first calving deserve primary consideration beside milk production into national breeding programs.

Research Parameters Result
Hassan and Khan, 2013 Performance of crossbred dairy cattle at military dairy farms in Pakistan Performance of crossbred dairy cattle in first lactation may be lower than earlier reports on crossbred cattle in Pakistan. This poor performance may be due to existing culling procedures used at military farms. Every female offspring born at military farms are retained for raising as cow to produce milk. No clear criteria are followed for selection of female calves born at farms.

Faid-Allah, 2015
Genetic and non-genetic analysis for milk production and reproductive traits in Holstein cattle in Egypt The Holstein breed in Egypt can show high milk production and good reproductive traits under adequate circumstances. Moderate heritability estimates and positive genetic correlation for most of traits studied suggested that genetic improvement of these traits would be achieved via multi-trait selection. The high positive genetic correlations between traits especially productive ones clarified that these traits could be improved simultaneously via multi-trait selection breeding program. Fernando et al., 2016 Productive and reproductive performance of Jersey cattle in the hill country of Sri Lanka The values for total milk yield, birth weight, lactation length and number of services per conception falls within the average values observed in other tropical countries. However, values for calving interval, age at first calving, calving to service period and days open were higher than the optimum values recommended to maintain reproductive efficiency.