Performance of Jamaica Hope Cattle in Commercial Dairy Herds in Jamaica

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Abstract
Performance of Jamaica Hope cattle, developed in Jamaica from a crossbred foundation containing about 80% Jersey, 15% Sahiwal and 5% Holstein breeding, was evaluated. There were 8819 lactation records for 1969-1975 of Jamaica Hope and other cows from 28 herds for estimates of environmental effects. Herd, year, season and age affected milk yield. Milk yield declined from 3890 kg in 1969 to 2658 kg in 1975. Effects of season and age of calving were small (5 and 13%). Progeny of Jamaica Hope sires were below other cows in milk yield (2732 vs. 3013 kg). Phenotypic correlations among milk yield, lactation length and body weight were positive but were negative for milk yield and days dry. Lactation length accounted for about 35% of the variation in milk yield whereas days dry and body weight contributed < 10%. Total variance for milk was small, 749,283 kg2. Percentages of total variance in milk yield attributed to herd, sire, cow and error were 29, 9, 46 and 16, respectively. For milk yield, heritability was 0.35 and repeatability 0.77. Sire values for 62 Jamaica Hope sires with at least 5 daughters were +243 to -300 kg. Factors that affect performance of Jamaica Hope do not appear greatly different from those influencing other breeds in tropical areas.

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