Evaluation of non-genetic factors affecting calf growth, reproductive performance and milk yield of traditionally managed Sheko cattle in southwest Ethiopia

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Table 3 Least squares means (±SE) for effects of agro ecology, season and parity on milk production traits

Effects and levels	N	DMY (lt)	N	LMY (lt)	N	305DY (lt)	N	LL (days)
Overall	1522	2.79 ± 0.06	1522	850.69 ± 24.16	547	839.07 ± 31.34	75	307.69 ± 6.13
R²		0.08		0.32		0.77		0.20
CV (%)		21.05		196.38		10.78		17.55
AEZ		NS		*		NS		*
Lowland	882	2.82 ± 0.10	882	855.85 ± 33.98	313	721.27 ± 33.75	43	310.26 ± 9.34
Midland	640	2.65 ± 0.11	640	743.89 ± 35.82	234	751.73 ± 27.85	32	283.73 ± 9.85
Season		NS		**		**		**
Dry	406	2.64 ± 0.17^a	406	684.92 ± 56.80^a	145	497.88 ± 52.55^a	20	273.92 ± 15.62^a
Short rainy	629	2.80 ± 0.08^a	629	902.96 ± 28.77^b	226	881.00 ± 23.55^b	31	324.08 ± 7.91^b
Main rainy	487	2.77 ± 0.13^a	487	816.23 ± 44.76^ab	176	830.61 ± 34.816^b	24	292.99 ± 12.31^a
Parity		NS		*		**		NS
1st	436	2.56 ± 0.13^a	436	680.73 ± 42.75^a	160	544.47 ± 56.45^a	22	283.30 ± 11.75^a
2nd	294	2.74 ± 0.15^a	294	770.05 ± 52.19^ab	102	771.53 ± 41.48^b	14	284.75 ± 14.35^a
3rd	243	2.88 ± 0.12^a	243	866.96 ± 38.83^b	87	846.06 ± 35.24^b	12	297.92 ± 10.68^a
4th	345	2.83 ± 0.21^a	345	894.37 ± 69.76^b	124	745.36 ± 55.00^cb	17	320.41 ± 19.18^a
5th	204	2.67 ± 0.19^a	204	794.74 ± 64.11^ab	74	772.05 ± 37.59^b	10	298.60 ± 17.63^a
Stage of lactation		**		NA		NA		NA
1st stage	450	3.88 ± 0.08^a
2nd stage	390	2.77 ± 0.07^b
3rd stage	682	1.8 ± 0.07^c

Least squares means with same superscript in the same column and class indicate non significance
N number of records, DMY daily milk yield, LMY lactation milk yield, 305DY 305 days milk yield, LL lactation length, NA not applicable
* P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01