Growth, production and reproduction performance of triplebred (kankrej x hf x jersey) cattle in gujarat

More than 350 triplebred female cattle having 50% Kankrej and 25% each of HF and Jersey inheritance have been developed by crossing JK females with HK bulls as well as inter-se mating of their progenies at Livestock Research Station, AAU, Anand over last 12 years to study their growth rate and productive as well as reproductive performance as crossbred dairy breed. The mean birth weight and body weight at 3, 6 and 12 months of age averaged 22.09±0.38, 55.51±1.39, 85.47±1.99 and 154.49±4.63 kg, respectively. The growth rate of heifers during 0–3, 3–6 and 6–12 months of age was 385.58±16.32, 364.23±19.07 and 390.37±22.31 g/day, respectively. The average age and weight at first breeding was 786.42±33.69 days and 234.72±5.06 kg, and the same at first calving were 1121.56±44.39 days and 321.95±3.31 kg, respectively. The average days open (service period) and calving interval were 123.76±7.89 and 405.88±12.42 days, respectively, with 1.56±0.10 services per conception. The mean lactation length and milk yield averaged 310.22±5.07 days and 2133.98±86.96 kg, respectively, with 4.36±0.04% fat in milk. Wet and herd average was 7.15±0.18 and 5.68±0.17 kg, respectively. The growth, production and reproduction performances of inter-se mated triplebred cattle were little lower as compared to their F₁ counterparts. The overall performance of triplebred cattle developed seems promising under climate of middle Gujarat.