An analysis of seasonality of milk production

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe lactation model of Wood, y = Anbe−cn was fitted, using a logarithmic transformation, to two sets of lactation data obtained from the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland. The first set was from animals calving in the autumn and the second set from animals calving in winter and early spring. A categorical variable was added to the transformed model to investigate the effect on the parameters of the animals going out to grass. The technique proved more useful with the autumn-calving herd.