Animal production studies in Jamaica. II. The development and evaluation of a field programme of calf weighing

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Abstract
1. The age of 210 days was selected for calf weight standardization. In general this is a preweaning weight under prevailing Jamaican conditions, and it represents a compromise between a very early age (90–120 days) which would reflect closely the milking ability of the dam, and the actual weaning age (approximately 260 days) when the grazing management of the herd would constitute a major unpredictable variable.2. Either one or two weighings taken between the fourth and the ninth months of life was used to standardize calf weights to 210 days of age. In either instance for groups of calves, a mean estimate was derived which was very close to the actual mean 210-day weight, and which was suitable for data relating to groups of animals.