1Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
2Hinis Vocational Training School, Animal Husbandry, Ataturk University, Hinis/Erzurum, Turkey.
*Corresponding address: Ataturk Universitesi, Ziraat Fakultesi, Tarim Ekonomisi Bolumu, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey. Tel: +90442 231 2587; Fax: +90442 231 2678; E-mail: haci_bayram@yahoo.com.
†Approximately 82% of the farms in Turkey have cattle between 1 to 9 heads, while 72% of the farms in EU have at least 30 heads or more (Anonymous, 2006).
To examine the most important factors on weight gains of Brown Swiss (BS) and Holstein Friesian (HF) calves using factor and stepwise regression analyses 53 BS and 41 HF calves were observed from parturition to six months of age. The results showed that physical characteristics, feeding type, gender and breed all played an important role on weight gains of calves.
Weight gain, feeding type, factor analysis, stepwise regression
