Studies on Culling Pattern in Crossbred Cows at an Organized Farm

A total 847 records of culling of crossbred cattle generated at Livestock Research Station, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India between 2000 to 2014 were used for the present study. The causes of culling were classified mainly in five groups viz., sale of male calf/bull calf, poor growth, production cull (low milk production, loss of one or more teat, short lactation period) reproductive cull (repeatbreeder, anoestrous, prolapse) and miscellaneous (death, old age, off type). The culling rate in various age groups viz., male and female calves below and above 1 year, cows and bull. Herdlife of crossbred cows was calculated on the basis of number of lactation completed on the farm. Culling rate for different reasons were 33.38, 22.05, 21.23, 11.67 and 11.67 percent respectively for sale of male calf/bull calf, poor growth, production cull, reproductive cull and miscellaneous culls. Culling rate for various age group were 51.53, 74.42, 25.21, 29.20, 31.30, 43.66 and 35.24% respectively. Average lactation of culled cows during 15 years were 1.92±0.24, 4.00±3.00, 3.37±0.58, 2.77±0.61, 3.60±0.58, 2.57±0.09, 2.27±0.55, 1.81±0.26, 2.33±0.54, 1.75±0.32, 2.72±0.46, 1.50±0.50, 2.87±0.35, 1.00 and 4.00±1.80 respectively. Overall average lactation of culled cows during 15 years was 2.57±0.09. The herdlife of dairy cows at LRS, Anand wasobserved to be 2.57 lactations.