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The effect of selected factors on rearing performance of charolais calves
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selected factors on rearing performance of Charolais calves to day 90 of life. The experimental material comprised 83 Charolais cows calving in the winter and spring seasons and calves they reared (84 head) to day 90 of life. All calves born by the experimental females were weighed at birth and then at days 30, 60 and 90 of life. Calves were also subjected to zoometric measurements. Their height at sacrum and width at hips were measured at days 10 and 30 of life. The increments for height at sacrum and width at hips between day 10 and 30 of life were calculated for the calves. Rearing indexes of the calves were assessed in terms of calf sex (heifer vs. bull calves), calving season (winter vs. spring), successive calving of the cow (1, 2, 3 and >3), parturition type (normal vs. dystocia), body condition of the cow after calving (good vs. poor). It was shown that rearing performance of Charolais calves to day 90 of life was significantly affected by their sex, calving season, parturition type and body condition of the dam during calving. The most advantageous results for the assessed rearing parameters of Charolais calves to day 90 of life were recorded for male animals born in the winter season coming from normal births and produced by dams in good body condition during parturition.