Effects of once-daily suckling on the postpartum reproductive performance of the local beef and crossbred cattle in Malaysia

J. A. Johari, S. Adnan, M. O. Ariff, M. I. Sukri and E. Daud

Abstract

The effects of once-daily suckling on the postpartum reproductive performance of 56 Kedah-Kelantan (KK) cattle and its crossbred cows (Brahman-KK, Hereford- KK and Friesian-KK) were studied using clinical observation and progesterone radioimmunoassay. Restricting the suckling to once-daily for 30–45 min reduced significantly (p <0.01) the interval from calving to first ovulation in KK and KK crossbred cows. The calving-to-conception interval was significantly (p <0.01) shorter in once-daily suckled cows than in normal suckled cows, and the conception rate was significantly (p <0.05) higher in the former than in the later group. The average daily gain of the calves from birth to weaning at 6 months old was 353.50 g in normal suckling group and 333.50 g in once-daily suckling group. The study showed that restricted suckling significantly improved the postpartum reproductive performance of the local beef cattle without affecting the growth performance of their calves.

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