title: Optimization of dry period in Karan Fries cow.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to optimize dry period (DP) length that can maximize the production across adjacent lactations and overall lifetime yield.
  
  
  METHODS
  Performance records with respect to DP spread over a period of 15-year in Karan Fries (KF) cattle maintained at Livestock Research Centre (National Dairy Research Institute), were collected for the study. Data of 681 KF cows were analyzed by least square technique to examine the effect of non-genetic factors on DP. Season of calving was classified into four seasons: Winter season (December-March), summer season (April-June), rainy season (July-September), and autumn season (October-November); period of calving into five periods: 1998-2000 (1-period), 2001-2003 (II-period), 2004-2006 (III-period), 2007-2009 (IV-period), and 2010-2012 (V-period), and parity into six parities, i.e., 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), 4(th), 5(th), and >6(th) parities to see the effect of non-genetic factors on DP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Period of calving, season of calving, and parity did not affect the DP significantly (p<0.05). The overall least square mean of DP was 67.93±2.12 days. For the optimization of DP with regard to milk productivity, analysis was carried out by class interval method. DP was classified into eight classes (<22, 23-45, 46-67, 68-89, 90-111, 112-133, 134-155, and >156 days), and optimum level was obtained at 46-67 days (3(rd) class) with the following respective milk yield (MY) of 305 daily MY (4016.44±43.68 kg), total MY (4704.21±61.51 kg), MY per day of lactation length (13.03±0.13 kg), and MY per day of calving interval (11.68±0.41 kg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the study, it was concluded that this optimal DP length (46-67 days) is suitable for maximizing the production. Hence, one should aim to dry off pregnant cows to achieve a DP of appropriate length to enhance productivity in the next lactation, as very short and very long DP reduces the economic profitability in dairy animals.
authors.affiliation: Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal - 132 001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: K Puhle
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Japheth
authors.affiliation: Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal - 132 001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mehla
authors.affiliation: Division of Dairy Cattle Physiology, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal - 132 001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Mahendra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Division of Dairy Cattle Breeding, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal - 132 001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Division of Dairy Cattle Breeding, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal - 132 001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Ramendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal - 132 001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Pranay
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bharti
authors.affiliation: Division of Livestock Production Management, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal - 132 001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chandrasekar
keywords: Karan Fries cow; dry period; economic trait; non-genetic factors; optimization