The effects of dam's milk yield and milk components on calf birth weight and some growth traits in anatolian buffaloes

This study was carried out to determine the effects of the dam's milk yield and quality traits on the birth weight and some growth traits of 98 calves born in 2017 and 2018 years in Çorum province. Effect of stage of lactation on daily milk yield (DMY) and milk fat content were significantly important (P<0.001). DMY (P=0.031), lactation milk yield (LMY) (P=0.048) and solids-not-fat (SNF) (P=0.034) were affected by calving age. Calving season affected the DMY (P=0.022) and fat content (P=0.005), but LMY and SNF were not affected. Suckling period and calf sex on DMY, LMY, fat content and SNF were not significantly important. Effect of calving age of dam on the birth weight was significantly important (P=0.029), but not effect on 6-month and 12-month weight. While effect of birth season on the 6-month (P=0.002) and 12-month weight (P=0.012) were significantly important, the birth weight was not affected. Effects of suckling period and calf sex on the birth, 6-month and 12-month weight were not significantly important. DMY and LMY were divided into three group as <5.50, 5.50-6.50, >6.50 kg and <1100, 1100-1300, >1300 kg, respectively. To evaluate by milk fat and SNF, three groups were formed: <7.50, 7.50-8.50, >8.50% and <9.35, 9.35-9.65, >9.65%. The highest 6-month weight (P=0.025) was observed in the calves of buffaloes with high DMY (>6.50 kg). The birth and 12-month weight were not affected by DMY of dam. The highest birth (P=0.040) and 6-month weight (P=0.046) were detected in calves of buffaloes with the highest LMY (>1300 kg) (P<0.05). The birth, 6-month and 12-month weights were not affected by milk fat content and SNF of dam. There was a positive (r = 0.331) and statistically significant correlation with birth weight and LMY (P<0.01). Positively and statistically significant correlations were determined between 6-months weight with DMY (r = 0.339) and LMY (r = 0.267) (P<0.01). There were not statistically significant correlations among birth, 6-month and 12-month weight with milk fat content and SNF. Keywords: Anatolian buffalo, birth weight, milk yield, fat content, solids-not-fat