Sains Malaysiana 43(7)(2014): 987–993

Fitting Multiphasic Logistic Functions to the Lactation Curves of

Gir x Friesian Crossbred Dairy Cattle in Malaysia

(Pemadanan Fungsi Berbilang Fasa kepada Lengkung Laktasi Kacukan Lembu Tenusu

Gir x Friesian di Malaysia)

A.M. MAJID¹*, A.A. SHARIFF¹, A.F. MERICAN² & Y.B. BONG³

¹Center for Foundation Studies in Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

²Centre of Research for Computational Sciences & Informatics for Biology, Bioindustry, Environment, Agriculture and Healthcare (CRYSTAL),  Institute of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

³Institute of Graduate Studies, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 22 February 2012/Accepted: 4 October 2013

ABSTRACT

The data used in this study consisted of milk yield (kg) taken at approximately fortnightly intervals from Gir x Friesian crossbred dairy cattle raised at Institut Haiwan Kluang, Malaysia. The data were first edited, smoothed and then fitted with mono-, di- and triphasic logistic functions. In general, parameter estimates for the first lactation were reasonable. However, for the second lactation the estimates were erratic and unreasonable because this was the atypical lactation for which the multiphasic functions were obviously unsuitable. Residual mean squares for the di- and triphasic functions of the first lactation were very similar (0.0002 and 0.0004, respectively) and smaller for the monophasic function (0.0894). For the second lactation, residual mean squares for the triphasic function (0.001) was the lowest compared to those for the mono- and diphasic functions (0.0345 and 0.0315). For the first lactation, the monophasic function did not fit the data well because it had large residuals. The di- and triphasic functions were almost similar in fitting the lactation and had low residuals. For the second lactation, both the mono- and diphasic functions did not fit the data very well and had rather large residuals. The triphasic function was the most fitting and had small residuals. Derived functions were generally lower for the first lactation than the second lactation: initial milk yields (4.88 to 6.0 kg versus 9.9 to 11.8 kg); peak milk yields (5.8 to 9.6 kg versus 12.8 to 15.7 kg) and 305-day milk yields (1147.7 to 1328.6 kg versus 1687.4 to 2296.1 kg).

Keywords: Gir x Friesian crossbred cattle; lactation; milk yield; multiphasic logistic functions

ABSTRAK

Data hasil susu (kg) yang diguna dalam kajian ini telah ditimbang lebih kurang setiap dua minggu daripada lembu kacukan tenusu Gir x Friesian yang diternak di Institut Haiwan Kluang, Malaysia. Data ini terlebih dahulu disunting dan dilicinkan sebelum dipadankan dengan fungsi logistik mono-, dwi- dan trifasa. Secara am, aggaran parameter untuk laktasi pertama adalah munasabah. Tetapi, anggaran untuk laktasi kedua adalah tidak menentu dan tidak munasabah kerana laktasi ini luar biasa dan fungsi logistik tidak sesuai dipadankan kepadanya. Min kuasa dua ralat untuk fungsi dwi- dan trifasa bagi laktasi pertama adalah hampir sama (0.0002 dan 0.0004) dan lebih kecil untuk fungsi monofasa (0.0894). Bagi laktasi kedua, min kuasa dua ralat untuk fungsi trifasa (0.001) adalah paling rendah jika dibandingkan dengan fungsi mono- dan dwifasa (0.0345 dan 0.0315). Bagi laktasi pertama, fungsi monofasa tidak padan dengan data kerana ia mempunyai ralat yang besar. Fungsi dwi- dan trifasa adalah hampir sama padan untuk laktasi ini dan mempunyai ralat yang rendah. Bagi laktasi kedua, fungsi mono- dan dwifasa tidak padan pada data dengan baik dan mempunyai ralat yang besar. Fungsi trifasa adalah yang paling padan dan mempunyai ralat yang rendah. Secara am, fungsi-fungsi terbitan adalah lebih rendah bagi laktasi pertama daripada laktasi kedua: hasil susu awal (4.88 hingga 6.0 kg berbanding 9.9 hingga 11.8 kg); hasil susu kemuncak (5.8 hingga 9.6 kg berbanding 12.8 hingga 15.7 kg) dan hasil susu 305 hari (1147.7 hingga 1328.6 kg berbanding 1687.4 hingga 2296.1 kg).

Kata kunci: Fungsi pelbagai fasa logistik; hasil susu; kacukan lembu Gir x Friesian; laktasi

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*Corresponding author; email: ammajid@um.edu.my