Investigation of growth and development characteristics of calves raised in Taşköprü Elekdağ Agricultural Enterprise

This research was conducted to examine the birth weight, weaning weight and daily weight gain of a total of 540 calves, including 192 Holstein and 348 Simmental calves, born between 01.01.2023 and 31.12.2023 at the Private Elekdağ Agricultural Enterprise in Kastamonu/Taşköprü district. has been made. Environmental factors affecting these characteristics were determined as: gender, breed, calving season, and colostrum drinking method. As a result, the average birth weight, weaning weight and daily live weight gain were determined as 36.47±0.182 kg, 90.16±0.601 kg, 0.73±0.008 kg/day, respectively. The average birth weight of male calves was measured as 37.71±0.302 kg, and that of female calves was 35.41±0.197 kg. The average weaning weight was found to be 93.79±0.916 kg in males and 87.08±0.749 kg in females. The average daily live weight gain is 0.76±0.013 kg/day for males and 0.71±0.011 kg/day for females. The effect of gender on calf birth weight was very significant (P<0.01), its effect on weaning weight was significant (P<0.05), and its effect on daily live weight gain was insignificant. The effect of breed on birth weight ,daily weight gain and weaning weight is insignificant. Colostrum drinking method was found to be insignificant for birth weight, weaning weight and daily live weight gain, but calving season was found to be very important (P<0.01)