Fit of different linear models to the lactation curve of Italian water buffalo

Abstract

Mathematical modelling of lactation curve by suitable functions of time, widely used in the dairy cattle industry, can represent also for buffaloes a fundamental tool for management and breeding decision, where average curves are considered, and for genetic evaluation by random regression models, where individual patterns are fitted. Average lactation curves of Italian Buffalo cows have been fitted with good results (Catillo et al., 2002) whereas there is a lack of information on individual fitting.Aim of the present work is to check performances of some of the most currently used empirical models in fitting both average and individual lactation curves of Italian water buffaloes