›› 2018, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (2): 375-383.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2018.02.011

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Study on the Relationship Between the Skinfold Thickness and Lactation Performance of Holstein in Beijing

LOU Wenqi1, LI Yuantao1, CHANG Yao1, SU Yitong1, HUANG Mingyi1, ZHANG Hailiang1, DONG Ganghui2, LI Xizhi2, WANG Yachun1   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. Beijing Shounong Livestock Development Co., Ltd., Beijing 100029, China
  • Received:2017-08-29 Online:2018-02-20 Published:2018-02-10

Abstract:

To identify the factor affecting skinfold thickness and to explore the effects of skinfold thickness on the lactation performance of Holstein,the neck skinfold thickness and rib skinfold thickness were measured using a digital display caliper while the body condition score (BCS) of tested Holstein was evaluated, and Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) records at the month when skinfold thickness was measured were collected. Finally,records of 2 519 milking cows were used in the analysis. The fixed effect model were used to analyze the effects of parity,farm,measurer, lactation stage and BCS on skinfold thickness,and the model analyzing the effects of skinfold thickness on the milk performance also included the above mentioned fixed effects. The results showed that parity farm,measurer,lactation stage and BCS had extremely significant effects on the skinfold thickness (P < 0.01).The neck skinfold thickness had significant impacts on the daily milk yield and milk fat percentage (P < 0.05),but no significant impacts on milk protein percentage and milk urea nitrogen (P > 0.05), while the rib skinfold thickness did not have significant impact on the milk performance (P > 0.05). The highest milk yield could be derived when the neck skinfold thickness was 7.20 mm and the lowest milk fat percentage could be derived when the neck skinfold thickness was 6.00 mm. This study intensively illustrated the factors affecting the skinfold thickness in different regions of body during the entire lactation period and explored the impacts of skinfold thickness in different regions of body on the lactation performance in Holstein population,which could provide a theory basis for utilizing skinfold thickness to improve the management in dairy farm.

Key words: Holstein; skinfold thickness; milk yield; milk component

CLC Number: