Factors influencing growth of Canadian holstein calves in Ghana.

Factors thought to influence monthly body weight and average daily gain of 122 first and second generation Canadian Holstein calves aged six to 24 months were studied. All factors (generation, sex, parity, season, age and year) studied accounted for 55.9 to 71.2% and 35.6 to 69.1% of the variation in body weight and average daily gain respectively. Parity, year and generation were the most important factors influencing all traits and accounted for 34.4 to 64.3% and 22.9 to 66.8% of the variation in body weight and average daily gain. Least squares means were, for body weight 144.2, 222.6, 330.5 and 377.9 kg at six, 12, 18 and 24 months and for average daily gain 0.42, 0.37, 0.50 and 0.39 kg at six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18 and 18 to 24 month intervals. It was concluded that offspring of Canadian Holsteins in this environment under adequate management and nutrition will be of adequate size for heifers to calve under 30 months of age and steers to reach 400 kg slaughter weight in 24 months.