Performance of Canadian Holstein-Friesian cattle in the humid forest zone of Ghana. II. Preweaning performance.

Birth weights, weaning weights and average daily gains of 97 calves born to 27 Holstein-Friesians imported from Canada were used. Adjusted mean birth weight, weaning weight and daily gain were 35.6, 104.6 and 0.5 kg respectively. Of the three variables studied sex of calf significantly influenced only birth weight whereas season of birth, sire of calf, parity of dam and year of birth significantly influenced weaning weight and daily gain but not birth weight. Sex, season, sire, parity and year all together accounted for 18.35, 43.49 and 46.09% of the variation in birth weight, weaning weight and daily gain respectively. Birth weight increased by 0.29 kg/day increase in gestation length and 0.027 kg/kg increase in calving weight, whereas weaning weight increased by 1.31 kg/kg increase in birth weight. Birth weights, weaning weights and daily gains observed here are similar to previous reports from other tropical environments.