THE SEASONAL EFFECT ON THE BODY CONDITION OF DAIRY COWS IN EASTERN ALGERIA

Ghoribi, L; Beghriche, A; Bensari, C; Djaaleb, I; Riachi, F; Djaaleb, H; Bererhi, Eh; Bouaziz, O

Sciences & technologie. C, Biotechnologies
Volume 0, Numéro 43, Pages 22-27
2016-06-30

The Seasonal Effect On The Body Condition Of Dairy Cows In Eastern Algeria

Authors : Ghoribi L . Beghriche A . Bensari C . Djaaleb I . Riachi F . Djaaleb H . Bererhi Eh . Bouaziz O .

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the body condition of dairy cows at different stages of lactation and analysis of the effect of the seasons on the body condition. From 2011 to 2015, we realized 1210 scoring on 564 lactations of 656 dairy cows. The average values are low; they are between 2.1 ± 0.4 to 2.7 ± 0.4 in the dry and calving periods and 1.2 ± 0.4 to 1.4 ± 0.4 in early lactation and 1.7 ± 0.5 to 2.2 ± 0.5 in mid-lactation. The differences in body condition scoring between seasons spring-summer and fall-winter are highly significant (P<0.01) in the middle of lactation, and significant (P<0.05) in the early lactation. These results show the need for the establishment of a monitoring body condition and fed rations related to the physiological state of cows to improve the performance of milk production.