Hair Coat Characteristics in Friesian Heifers in the Netherlands and Kenya: Experimental Data and a Review of Literature

The study examined the adaptation of Friesian heifers exported from the Netherlands to Kenya, focusing on hair coat characteristics. It involved 30 heifers in the Netherlands and 52 in Kenya. Key findings included significant seasonal changes in hair characteristics in the Netherlands, with medullated hairs increasing in summer. In Kenya, heifers initially struggled to acclimatize, showing low medullated hair levels and high hair densities, taking about 18 months to adapt. The study suggested that equatorial photoperiods disrupted normal hair cycles, and that hair coat characteristics were not strongly linked to body weight gain. Further research was recommended to explore the role of hair coats in heat transfer and adaptation in tropical climates.