Milk Yield And Reproductive Performance Of Bufalipso In A Genetic Enterprise In Havana Province. Preliminary Results

The data of the milk yield and the reproductive performance of a Genetic Enterprise of the Havana province was used according to 204 observations (52 animals) in four herds and during 20 years (1985 to 2005), corresponding to a part of the buffalo Population (Bufalipso) initially imported to the country. A linear model of fixed effects was used through the procedure of GLM from SAS release 6.12, considering the effects of the herd (4), sex of the calf (2), calving season (2), calving number (1-10), and if considered elite dam or not according to previous test (2). The measurements were total milk yield, milk yield/lactation day, lactation length, dry cow period, calving interval, birth weight, calving-pregnancy period. The analysis of variance showed only significant effect of the herd on total milk yield (P < 0.001), and milk yield/lactation day (P < 0.05). The best herd produced 941 kg and the worst 744 kg of milk per lactation. The units 1 and 2 (3.74 and 3.87 kg) differed in milk yield per lactation day from the units 3 and 4 (3.18 and 3.15 kg). The calving number and the herd accounted for the highest percentages of variability of the means, according to the coefficients of partial determination. The buffalo cows considered as elite had better percentage values in all the indicators. However, their means did not attain the statistical significance. It was proved the need for considering the herd effect when assessing future dams of buffalo sires for dairy production, as well as keeping the assessment of the elite dams in a permanent form.