The milking ability of Angus cows in comparison with their calves’ growth

Abstract

Protein content, fat content and sugar content of colostrum and milk were examined in an average of 30 Angus cows. The values obtained were 20.19%, 8.22%, 1.53% and 3.23%, 3.77%, 4.88% respectively. The colostrum samples were taken less than three hours after calving. Compared to data in the literature related to other beef cattle breeds - Limousin, Hungarian Simmental and Blonde d’ Aquitaine - dry matter and fat content of the Angus' colostrum were among the highest, but in the case of protein content only the Hungarian Simmental was superior. The ratio of the whey protein and casein of colostrum was 74.16%:25.84%. On examination of the protein fractions of colostrum the following values were obtained as correlations with total protein content: whey protein r=+0.89, casein r=-0.16, NPN fraction r=+0.06. In comparison with data in the literature relating to the fat content of milk the Angus was the superior among the other kind of beef cattle breeds previously mentioned. The ratio of the whey protein and casein of milk was 21.39%:78.61%. On examination of the protein fractions of colostrum the folowing values were obtained as correlations with toted protein content: whey protein r=+0.68, casein r=-0.46, NPN fraction r=+0.36. In the average of the first 70 days the weight gain of Angus calves was 887 grammes. The value of correlation between the quantity of milk and daily weight gain of calves was r=+0.32.