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1.
Data from topcross cows (n = 468) from six breeds of sire (Angus, Brahman, Hereford, Pinzgauer, Sahiwal, Tarentaise) and two breeds of dam (Angus and Hereford) of Cycle III of the Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) comprising cow weight (CW, n = 9,012), height (CH, n = 9,010), and condition score (CS, n = 8,991) recorded in four seasons per year from 2 to 6 yr of age were used to estimate breed-group differences. The mixed models included cow age, season of measurement and their interactions, year of birth, pregnancy-lactation code (PL), and breed group as fixed effects for CW and CS. Analyses of weight adjusted for condition score included CS as a linear covariate. Model for CH excluded PL. Random effects were additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. Differences among breed-groups were significant for all traits for different ages and were maintained across ages, with few interchanges in ranking through maturity. Cows with Sahiwal sires were lightest (392 to 479 kg), whereas Hereford-Angus (HA) reciprocal-cross cows were shortest (119 to 123 cm) at each age. Cows with Brahman sires were heaviest and tallest among breed groups at all ages, exceeding HA cows by 19 to 24 kg and 9 to 10 cm, respectively. Cows with Pinzgauer and Tarentaise sires were intermediate for weight and height and interchanged ranking across ages. Differences in weight due to differences in condition seemed to be of small magnitude because adjustment for condition score did not affect rankings of breed groups across ages. Important changes for mature size of cows can be achieved by breed substitution with the breeds of sires used in this study.  相似文献   

2.
Data from Angus, Hereford, and top-cross cows (n = 641) from 2- to 8-yr-old daughters of seven breeds of sires included in Cycle II of the Germplasm Evaluation Program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, comprising cow weight (CW, n = 15,698), height (CH, n = 15,676), and condition score (CS, n = 15,667), were used to estimate breed-group differences. Data were recorded in four seasons of each year (1975 to 1982). The mixed model included cow age, season of measurement, and their interactions, year of birth, pregnancy-lactation code (PL), and breed-group as fixed effects for CW and CS. Analyses of weight adjusted for condition score included CS as covariate. The model for CH excluded PL. Random effects were additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. Differences among breed-groups were significant for all traits at different ages and were maintained across ages, with few interchanges in ranking through maturity. Cows were ranked (by breed of sire) in the following order for weight: Red Poll (lightest), Hereford-Angus (reciprocal), Braunvieh, Gelbvieh, Maine Anjou, and Chianina (heaviest). In general, cows sired by breeds of British origin were lighter and shorter than those of continental origin. Differences in weight due to differences in condition seemed to be of small magnitude because making an adjustment for condition score did not affect rankings of breed groups across ages. Differences among breed groups for height were consistent with differences for weight. Cows from Chianina sires were taller than Hereford-Angus cows by 14 to 15 cm across ages. In this study, breed of sire effects were significantly different for the mature size of their daughters.  相似文献   

3.
Breed differences for weight (CW), height (CH), and condition score (CS) were estimated from records (n = 12,188) of 2- to 6-yr-old cows (n = 744) from Cycle IV of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center's Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) Program. Cows were produced from mating Angus and Hereford dams to Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Shorthorn, Galloway, Longhorn, Nellore, Piedmontese, and Salers sires. Samples of Angus and Hereford sires were 1) reference sires born from 1962 through 1970 and 2) 1980s sires born in 1980 through 1987. The mixed model included cow age, season of measurement and their interactions, year of birth, pregnancy-lactation code (PL), and breedgroup as fixed effects for CW and CS. Analyses of weight adjusted for condition score included CS as a linear covariate. The model for CH excluded PL. Random effects were additive genetic and permanent environmental effects associated with the cow. Differences among breed groups were significant (P < 0.05) for all traits and were maintained through maturity with few interchanges in ranking. The order of F1 cows for weight was as follows: Charolais (506 to 635 kg for different ages), Shorthorn and Salers, reciprocal Hereford-Angus (HA) with 1980s sires, Nellore, HA with reference sires, Galloway, Piedmontese, and Longhorn (412 to 525 kg for different ages). Order for height was as follows: Nellore (136 to 140 cm), Charolais, Shorthorn, Salers, HA with 1980s sires, Piedmontese, Longhorn, Galloway and HA with reference sires (126 to 128 cm). Hereford and Angus cows with reference sires were generally lighter than those with 1980s sires. In general, breed differences for height followed those for weight except that F1 Nellore cows were tallest, which may in part be due to Bos taurus-Bos indicus heterosis for size.  相似文献   

4.
Variation between- and within-breeds was evaluated for accretion of weight from birth to 7 yr of age and hip height at 7 yr for 1,577 cows sired by Angus, Brahman, Brown Swiss, Charolais, Chianina, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Jersey, Limousin, Maine Anjou, Pinzgauer, Sahiwal, Simmental, South Devon, and Tarentaise and from either Angus or Hereford dams. Parameters from Wt = A (1 - Be-kt) were estimated by nonlinear regressions and provided estimates of mature body weight (A) and rate of weight accretion relative to change in age (k) for each cow. Actual weight at birth, linear adjusted weights at 200, 365, and 500 d of age, ratios of these weights to mature weight, and height at the hip at 7 yr were analyzed. Beyond 20 mo, weights were adjusted to a constant condition score within breed of sire. Variance and covariance components were derived for breed (sigma 2 b), sires within breed (sigma 2 s), and progeny within sire (sigma 2 w). For all traits, the sigma 2 b estimate of genetic variance ranged from two to four times greater than the variance component for sigma 2 s. Between-breed heritabilities were .91 +/- .27 and .54 +/- .17 for A and k, respectively. Estimates of within-breed heritability for these two traits were .61 +/- .11 and .27 +/- .09. Estimates, both between- and within-breed, of the genetic correlation between A and k were moderate to large and negative; those between A and weights at 200, 365, and 500 d and height at maturity were large and positive. Selection for immediate change in measures of growth would be most effective among breeds. Sufficient direct genetic variation exists between breeds to enhance breed improvement of growth characters through breed substitution. Greater opportunity to alter the shape of the growth curve exists through selection for within-breed selection than through breed substitution.  相似文献   

5.
Milk yield data were collected by weigh-suckle-weigh procedures at approximately 14, 28, 56, 84, 112, 138, 156, 184, and 212 d postpartum for mature Angus, Braunvieh, Charolais, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Limousin, Red Poll, Pinzgauer, and Simmental cows over a 4-yr period. Individual cows were fed at one of four energy intake levels. Parameters characterizing lactation curves for 431 lactations from 179 cows were estimated by nonlinear regression. Differences due to breed, level of energy intake, and the two-factor interaction between breed and level of ME allowance for scale and shape parameters of lactation curves and derived estimates for time of peak lactation, yield at time of peak lactation, and for total yield for a 210-d lactation period were evaluated. Breed and energy intake level were significant sources of variation for all traits. Pooled over energy levels, daily yields at time of peak lactation of Braunvieh, Gelbvieh, and Pinzgauer were greater (P less than .05) than those of Angus, Charolais, Hereford, and Limousin. Simmental and Red Poll were intermediate. Total lactation yield of the Braunvieh exceeded (P less than .05) that of all other breeds with the exception of Gelbvieh. Hereford produced less milk than (P less than .05) the other breeds. The response in yields at time of peak lactation as energy allowances increased for Braunvieh, Charolis, Gelbvieh, Limousin, and Pinzgauer cows were linear and resulted in higher yields at this time. Linear increases in total 210-d yield and times of peak lactation were observed for all breeds with the exception of Hereford.  相似文献   

6.
Weight (CW, n = 61,798), weight adjusted for condition score (WA), hip height (CH, n = 56,494), and condition score (CS, n = 61,434) of cows (2 through 8 yr of age) produced by crosses of 22 sire breeds with Angus and Hereford dams in the first four cycles of the Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) Program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center were used to estimate genetic parameters with REML. The model included sire breed, dam breed, age in years, season of measurement (1 to 4) and their interactions, and year of birth and pregnancy-lactation code (PL) as fixed effects for CW and CS. The model for CH excluded PL. Random effects were additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. Univariate analyses of all data, by season and by year of age, bivariate analyses between pairs of seasons and ages (2 to 6), and between traits were done. Estimates of heritability and repeatability over all ages were 0.49, 0.54, 0.68, and 0.16, and 0.65, 0.67, 0.75, and 0.30 for CW, WA, CH, and CS, respectively. Corresponding estimates for each age and season were similar for all traits and cycles. Estimates of genetic and permanent environmental correlations were close to unity for all pairs of seasons and traits. Genetic correlations were greater than 0.92 for all pairs of ages for CW, WA, and CH, and greater than 0.67 for CS. Genetic correlations were 0.80, 0.86, 0.43, and -0.04 for CW-CH, WA-CH, CW-CS, and CH-CS, respectively. Results suggest that repeatability models can be used to model weights and heights in this population.  相似文献   

7.
Heterosis effects were evaluated in three composite populations in F1, F2, and F3 generations separately and combined in 1-yr-old and from 2- through greater than or equal to 7-yr-old beef cows. Traits included actual weight, weight adjusted to a common condition score, hip height, and condition score. Breed effects were evaluated in the nine parental breeds (Red Poll [R], Hereford [H], Angus [A], Limousin [L], Braunvieh [B], Pinzgauer [P], Gelbvieh [G], Simmental [S], and Charolais [C]) that contributed to the three composite populations (MARC I = 1/4 B, 1/4 C, 1/4 L, 1/8 H, 1/8 A; MARC II = 1/4 G, 1/4 S, 1/4 H, 1/4 A; and MARC III = 1/4 R, 1/4 P, 1/4 H, 1/4 A). Breed group (parental breed and composite) effects were significant for all traits analyzed. The effects of heterosis were generally important (P less than .05) for all traits in F1, F2, and F3 generations separately and combined in the three composite populations. Generally, the magnitude of heterosis observed at 1 yr of age did not differ from that observed in cows from 2 through greater than or equal to 7 yr old. Adjusting weight to a common condition score resulted in an average reduction of heterosis effects on actual weight by approximately one-fourth. Thus, approximately one-fourth of the effects of heterosis on weight result from heterosis effects on condition score. Generally, retained heterosis in the F3 generation of either 1-yr-old or from 2-through greater than or equal to 7-yr-old cows of the three composite populations did not differ (P greater than .05) from expectation based on retained heterozygosity for the traits analyzed. These results support the hypothesis that heterosis for weight, hip height, and condition score of cows of these age classes is the result of dominance effects of genes.  相似文献   

8.
Retained heterosis in F2 cows nursing F3 progeny was evaluated in 3-, 4-, and greater than or equal to 5-yr-old cows. Traits evaluated included milk yield at three stages of lactation and 200-d weight of progeny. Breed effects were evaluated in the nine parental breeds (Red Poll [R], Hereford [H], Angus [A], Limousin [L], Braunvieh [B], Pinzgauer [P], Gelbvieh [G], Simmental [S], and Charolais [C]) that contributed to the three composite populations (MARC I = 1/4 B, 1/4 C, 1/4 L, 1/8 H, 1/8 A; MARC II = 1/4 G, 1/4 S, 1/4 H, 1/4 A; and MARC III = 1/4 R, 1/4 P, 1/4 H, 1/4 A). Breed effects were significant for 12-h milk yield, estimated 200-d milk yield, and 200-d weight of progeny. Herefords were lowest (P less than .05) for 12-h milk yield and estimated 200-d milk yield, and Braunvieh produced significantly more milk than all breed groups except Pinzgauer and Simmental, for which the difference approached significance. The correlation among breed group means (nine parental breeds and three composites) for 12-h milk yield with 200-d weight of progeny was .91. When 200-d weight was adjusted to a common estimated 200-d milk yield, Hereford, Angus, Red Poll, and Limousin did not differ (P greater than .05); all were significantly lighter than Braunvieh, Pinzgauer, Gelbvieh, Simmental, and Charolais, which did not differ (P greater than .05) from each other.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)  相似文献   

9.
Beef production characteristics of 254 intensively fed young bulls are described. The results are part of a beef × dairy crossbreeding experiment, where sires of eight European beef and dual-purpose breeds were used on cows of RDM (Danish Red Cattle) and SDM (Black Pied Danish Cattle).Daily gain and feed conversion were influenced by the sire breeds. Charolais, Blonde d'Aquitaine and Simmental crosses showed the highest daily gain, followed by Romagnola, Danish Red and White, Chianina, Limousin and Hereford crosses.Carcass composition and carcass conformation were strongly influenced by sire breed with Blonde d'Aquitaine and Limousin crosses producing the most valuable carcasses followed by Chianina, Charolais, Romagnola, Simmental, Danish Red and White and Hereford crosses in descending order.The analysis showed a sire breed × weight/age interaction in carcass composition traits, due to sire breed differences in maturity. That demonstrates the importance of serial slaughtering in breed comparison experiments. Hereford and Limousin produced the earliest maturing crosses and Danish Red and White and Blonde d'Aquitaine the latest maturing crosses.  相似文献   

10.
To quantify the relationship between DM consumption, the ability to sustain BW per unit of DMI (BW stasis), and days to reach BW equilibrium among diverse cattle breeds, weekly individual cow BW and DMI data were recorded for mature, nonpregnant, and nonlactating cows sampled from Angus, Braunvieh, Charolais, Hereford, Gelbvieh, Limousin, Pinzgauer, Red Poll, and Simmental breeds. Within each breed, cows were assigned to receive 1 of 4 daily DM allowances (56, 76, 93, or 111 g.BW(-0.75, kg)) of a ground alfalfa hay-corn grain-based diet. Cows were housed in pens (space for 4 animals/pen) in open-front barns and fed individually using head gates. During the first 60 d of the experiment, BW were recorded every 28 d, after which BW were recorded on a weekly basis until the cows were determined to have attained BW equilibrium. Individual cows were determined to be at BW equilibrium when the rate of weekly BW change did not differ from 0 over an 8-wk period. The number of days to reach BW equilibrium was not affected (P > 0.79) by breed but was affected by the daily DM allowance (P < 0.003). The number of days required to attain BW equilibrium was greater as the rate of feeding (g of DM fed.BW(-0.75)) increased and ranged from 103 to 136 d. Within breed linear and the pooled quadratic regressions were significant for BW. Observed breed differences varied with feeding rate. Weight stasis estimates for mature Red Poll cows (68.3 +/- 3.8) differed (P < 0.05) from estimates for all the breeds, with the exception of Limousin (72.0 +/- 3.8), Braunvieh (74.0 +/- 4.8), and Pinzgauer (75.5 +/- 3.8) cows at the lowest feeding rate. At the 111 g.BW(-0.75) daily DM allowance, the estimates for Limousin (82.2 +/- 3.8) were greater (P < 0.05) than for the other breeds, with the exception of the Pinzgauer (81.0 +/- 4.3) and Braunvieh (75.7 +/- 3.9), which were similar to the remaining breeds in the study (P > 0.05). The change in rank of breed estimates for BW stasis suggests a breed x nutrition interaction for BW stasis.  相似文献   

11.
Carcass and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) data from strip loin steaks were obtained from 7,179 progeny of Angus, Brahman, Brangus, Charolais, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Limousin, Maine-Anjou, Red Angus, Salers, Shorthorn, Simbrah, Simmental, and South Devon sires. Trained sensory panel (TSP) evaluations were obtained on 2,320 steaks sampled from contemporary groups of progeny from one to five sires of each breed. Expected progeny differences for marbling and WBSF were developed for 103 Simmental sires from 1,295 progeny, 23 Shorthorn sires from 310 progeny, and 69 Hereford sires from 1,457 progeny. Pooled phenotypic residual correlations, including all progeny, showed that marbling was lowly correlated with WBSF (-0.21) and with TSP overall tenderness (0.18). The residual correlation between WBSF and TSP tenderness was -0.68, whereas residual correlations for progeny sired by the three Bos indicus breeds were only slightly different than for progeny sired by Bos taurus breeds. The phenotypic range of mean WBSF among sires across breeds was 6.27 kg, and the phenotypic range among breed means was 3.93 kg. Heritability estimates for fat thickness, marbling score, WBSF, and TSP tenderness, juiciness, and flavor were 0.19, 0.68, 0.40, 0.37, 0.46, and 0.07, respectively. Ranges in EPD for WBSF and marbling were -0.41 to +0.26 kg and +0.48 to -0.22, respectively, for Simmentals; -0.41 to +0.36 kg and 0.00 to -0.32, respectively, for Shorthorns; and -0.48 to +0.22 kg and +0.40 to -0.24, respectively, for Herefords. More than 20% of steaks were unacceptable in tenderness. Results of this study demonstrated that 1) selection for marbling would result in little improvement in meat tenderness; 2) heritability of marbling, tenderness, and juiciness are high; and 3) sufficient variation exists in WBSF EPD among widely used Simmental, Shorthorn, and Hereford sires to allow for genetic improvement in LM tenderness.  相似文献   

12.
Mature Hereford cows (766) were mated to 97 sires from seven breeds (Jersey, Wagyu, Angus, Hereford, South Devon, Limousin, and Belgian Blue), resulting in 1,215 calves born over 4 yr (1994 to 1997). These cattle comprised Australia's 'Southern Crossbreeding Project." Heifers were slaughtered at an average of 16 mo with hot standard carcass weight of 219 kg and 9 mm fat over the rump. Steers were slaughtered at an average of 23 mo with carcass weight of 319 kg and 13 mm fat over the rump. Meat and fat samples were taken from the carcass on the day after slaughter for subsequent laboratory analysis of i.m. fat content and fatty acid composition. Data were analyzed using uni- and bivariate animal models containing fixed effects of cohort, management group, birth month, and sire breed. March-born calves had fat with a 0.5 degrees C lower melting point, 0.6% higher total monounsaturated fatty acids, and 0.7% higher fatty acid desaturation index than calves born in April. Steers born in 1997 were the only cohort finished on pasture, and they had much more yellow fat than the other cohorts. Four heavy breed crosses (Angus, South Devon, Limousin, and Belgian Blue) averaged 284 kg carcass weight, followed by purebred Hereford (268 kg), Wagyu (244 kg) and Jersey (236 kg). Angus had the greatest fat depth (14.3 mm), ahead of Hereford and Wagyu (11.9 mm), Jersey (10.7 mm), South Devon and Limousin (9.9 mm) and Belgian Blue (8.0 mm). Jersey, Wagyu, and Angus had themost i.m. fat (4.6%), followed by Hereford and South Devon (3.8%), and Limousin and Belgian Blue (3.1%). The highly marbled Jersey and Wagyu had softer fat (6% lower fat melting point) than the other breeds. Angus were more highly marbled, similar to Jersey and Wagyu, but had harder fat similar to the leaner breeds. Heritabilities for all traits were low to moderate (16 to 36%). Genetic correlations between fatty add composition and carcass traits were not significant, indicating little evidence of antagonisms between traits that would prevent genetic progress in both production and quality.  相似文献   

13.
F. Szab  I. Dkay 《Livestock Science》2009,122(2-3):271-275
Longevity of beef cows defined as the length of productive life from first calving to culling was estimated in this study. Data from 1800 cows belonging to Hereford, Angus, Simmental, Charolais, Limousin and Blonde d' Aquitaine breeds were analysed using survival method. The results indicate effects of breed, calving season, and calving difficulty on longevity (P < 0.05); however, herd, age of the cow at first calving, sex and weaning weight of their calves did not affect (P > 0.05) the length of productive life. Hereford had significantly greater (10.3 years) estimated length of productive life than Angus (8.1 years), Simmental (7.9 years), and Charolais (7.1 years), which had similar estimated longevity. Limousin (5.9 years) and Blonde d' Aquitaine (5.2 years) were similar in estimated longevity, but less than the other breeds studied. Cows that calved first in spring or summer were estimated to have longer productive life (7.2 years and 9.9 years) and less risk of early culling than those calving in autumn (5.7 years) and in winter (5.1 years). Longer productive life (6.2 years) was estimated across breeds for cows calving without assistance or with a little assistance (6.9 years) compared to those needing veterinary assistance (2.8 years) or having stillbirth (4.6 years). The results highlight that breed, calving season and calving difficulty of beef cows may have important effects on length of productive life. Special attention should be devoted to these effects.  相似文献   

14.
The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of inbreeding on carcass quality, growth rate, live conformation measures, and calving performance in purebred populations of Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, Hereford, and Angus beef cattle using data from Irish commercial and pedigree herds. Variables analyzed are reflective of commercial farming practices. Inbreeding was included in a linear mixed model as either a class variable or a linear continuous variable. Nonlinear effects were nonsignificant across all traits. Inbred animals had decreased carcass weight and less carcass fat. The effects of inbreeding were more pronounced in the British beef breeds. Effects for carcass weight ranged from -0.87 kg (Charolais) to -1.90 kg (Hereford) per 1% increase in inbreeding. Inbred Charolais and Hereford animals were younger at slaughter by 3 and 5 d, respectively, per percentage of increase in inbreeding, whereas the effect of inbreeding on age at slaughter differed significantly with animal sex in the Limousin and Angus breeds. Inbred Limousin and Angus heifers were younger at slaughter by 5 and 7 d, respectively, per percentage of increase in inbreeding. Continental animals were more affected by inbreeding for live muscling and skeletal conformational measurements than the British breeds; inbred animals were smaller and narrower with poorer developed muscle. Calf inbreeding significantly affected perinatal mortality in Charolais, Simmental, and Hereford animals. The effects were dependent upon dam parity and calf sex; however, where significant, the association was always unfavorable. Dam inbreeding significantly affected perinatal mortality in Limousin and Hereford animals. Effects differed by parity in Limousins. Inbred first-parity Angus dams had a greater incidence of dystocia. Although the effects of inbreeding were some-times significant, they were small and are unlikely to make a large financial effect on commercial beef production in Ireland.  相似文献   

15.
The objective of this study was to determine the inbreeding levels and to analyze the pedigree of Irish purebred populations of Charolais, Limousin, Hereford, Angus, and Simmental beef cattle, as well as the Holstein-Friesian dairy breed. Pedigree analyses included quantifying the depth of known pedigree, average generation intervals, effective population size, the effective number of founders, ancestors, and founder genomes, as well as identifying the most influential animals within the current population of each breed. The annual rate of increase in inbreeding over the past decade was 0.13% (P < 0.001) in the Hereford, 0.06% (P < 0.001) in the Simmental, and 0.10% (P < 0.001) in the Holstein-Friesian breeds. Inbreeding in the other breeds remained relatively constant over the past decade. Herefords had the greatest mean inbreeding in 2004, at 2.19%, whereas Charolais had the lowest, at 0.54%. Over half of each purebred population in 2004 was inbred to some degree; the population with the greatest proportion of animals inbred was the Hereford breed (85%). All 6 breeds displayed a generation interval of approximately 6 yr in recent years. In the pure-bred females born in 2004, the 3 most influential animals contributed between 11% (Limousin) and 24% (Hereford) of the genes. Effective population size was estimated for the Hereford, Simmental, and Holstein-Friesian only, and was 64, 127, and 75, respectively. The effective number of founders varied from 55 (Simmental) to 357 (Charolais), whereas the effective number of ancestors varied from 35 (Simmental and Hereford) to 82 (Limousin). Thus, despite the majority of animals being inbred, the inbreeding level across breeds is low but rising at a slow rate in the Hereford, Simmental, and Holstein-Friesian.  相似文献   

16.
Individual consumption of total digestible nutrients (TDN) was measured on 105 two-breed cross cows (Hereford X Angus reciprocal crosses, HA; Simmental X Angus, SA; Simmental X Hereford, SH; Brown Swiss X Angus, BA; Brown Swiss X Hereford BH; Jersey X Angus, JA and Jersey X Hereford, JH) and their three-breed cross calves managed in drylot. Cows were 4 to 6 yr of age and mated to Charolais or Limousin bulls. Cows remained in the drylot for a period of approximately 1 yr (from weaning one year to weaning the next year). Ad libitum consumption of corn silage was allowed for about 4 h each day and fixed amounts of grain and protein supplement were fed as needed. Calf creep feed was provided during the latter portion of lactation. Compared with the average weight of HA cows (454 kg), SA cows were 7% heavier, SH, BA and BH cows were similar, while JH and JA cows were 15 and 22% lighter in weight, respectively. Total intake of TDN by cow and calf for the 365-d drylot period was greatest for the SA group (2,309 kg), exceeding that of the HA group by 11.2%. The JA group consumed 7.2% less than HA, while other groups were similar to HA in TDN intake. Daily intake of TDN for the 365-d period, expressed as a percentage of cow weight and cow weight .75, was highest for the smaller J crosses. The ratio of 365-d TDN intake to 205-d calf weight, a measure of weaning efficiency, averaged 10.0 kg/kg for JH, BH and SH, 10.5 kg/kg for HA and BA and 10.9 kg/kg for JA and SA. When TDN intake was adjusted for cow weight change, crossbred cow group was not a significant source of variation for kg TDN/205-d calf weight.  相似文献   

17.
Angus (A), Charolais (C), Hereford (H), Limousin (L), and Simmental (S) breeds were included in deterministic computer models simulating integrated cow-calf-feedlot production systems. Three mating systems were used: pure-breeding and two-and three-breed rotational crossbreeding. Breed information was taken from the literature. Herd sizes were unrestricted; however, 100 heifers were saved as replacements. Cows were removed for reproductive failure, age (greater than 10.5 yr), or death. Calves produced in the cow-calf segment were fed in a custom feedlot to four slaughter end points: 440 d, 457 d, 288-kg carcass weight, and low Choice. All animals were fed to requirements. Cull cows were slaughtered after weaning. Biological and economic efficiencies improved with crossbreeding; however, rankings of breed combinations depended on how efficiencies were measured (weight, lean, or value basis). Among purebreds, reproductive performance had a large influence on breed rankings at age and weight end points, whereas feedlot performance was important at the low Choice end point. Crossbred combinations involving British (A or H) and Continental (C or S) breeds were more efficient than other crossbred combinations at all end points. However, choosing specific breed combinations for integrated systems depends on slaughter end points, market end points (weight vs lean), and measures of efficiency (weight, lean, or value basis).  相似文献   

18.
Birth, weaning, feedlot and carcass traits were evaluated on 1,181 calves sired by Charolais and Limousin bulls out of eight crossbred dam groups (Hereford X Angus, Angus X Hereford, Simmental X Angus, Simmental X Hereford, Brown Swiss X Angus, Brown Swiss X Hereford, Jersey X Angus, Jersey X Hereford). Calves were born in the spring over a 4-yr period during which dams ranged from 3 to 8 yr of age. Charolais-cross calves were 2.7 kg heavier (P less than .01) at birth and had a 9.9% higher (P less than .01) incidence of difficult calvings and 4.6% greater (P less than .05) preweaning death loss than did Limousin crosses. Charolais-sired calves out-gained Limousin-sired calves by 31 g/d (P less than .01) from birth to weaning and were 9 kg heavier (P less than .01) at weaning. After weaning, calves were self-fed a finishing diet and slaughtered as each animal attained an estimated carcass grade of low Choice. Charolais-cross calves gained 60 g/d faster (P less than .01) than Limousin crosses, were fed 6.8 fewer d and were 17.3 kg heavier (P less than .01) at slaughter. Feed efficiency was similar for both sire breeds. On a grade-equivalent basis, Charolais crosses produced 7 kg heavier (P less than .01) carcass and had 22 g more carcass weight per day of age (P less than .01). Charolais crosses had slightly less internal and external fat. Dressing percentage was higher for Limousin cross calves (64.6 vs 63.9%, P less than .01). Longissimus muscle area and carcass cutability were similar for crosses of both sire breeds.  相似文献   

19.
Mature dams representing Hereford, Red Poll, F1 Hereford x Red Poll, F1 Red Poll x Hereford, F1 Angus x Hereford, F1 Angus x Charolais, F1 Brahman x Hereford and F1 Brahman x Angus breed types were evaluated. All cows were bred to Limousin sires to produce two-way or three-way-cross progeny. Mature Brahman x Hereford dams produced a higher (P less than .05) percentage of live calves than Herefords, but dam breed differences in percentage of calves weaned relative to the number of cows exposed for mating were not statistically significant. Progeny of Angus x Charolais and Red Poll dams were outstanding in weaning weight, but Hereford and Brahman-cross calves were below average. Planned comparisons showed that Angus x Charolais calves were heavier (P less than .01) at weaning than Hereford (23.0 +/- 3.8 kg) or Angus x Hereford (9.6 +/- 3.2 kg) progeny. Mature Angus x Hereford mothers weaned heavier calves than did Brahman x Herefords (7.4 +/- 3.2 kg, P less than .05) or Brahman x Angus (10.9 +/- 3.0 kg, P less than .01). Analysis of the Hereford-Red Poll diallel showed evidence of maternal heterosis in calf weaning weight (4.0 +/- 2.6 kg, P less than .05), but there was no difference in the percentage of calves weaned by crossbred vs straightbred dams.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)  相似文献   

20.
Genetic improvement in reproductive efficiency through selection is difficult because many reproductive traits are binomial and have low heritabilities. Before genetic markers can be generated for fertility in cows, greater characterization of reproductive phenotypes is needed to understand the components of the trait. The current study tested the hypotheses that: 1) breeds vary in postpartum interval to estrus (PPIE) and estrous cycle length, 2) a longer estrous cycle immediately before breeding increased pregnancy rates, and 3) a greater number of cycles before breeding increased conception rates. The postpartum interval to estrus, estrous cycle length, and number of cycles before breeding were examined in F1 cows (n = 519) obtained from mating Hereford, Angus, and MARC III cows to Hereford, Angus, Simmental, Limousin, Charolais, Gelbvieh, and Red Angus sires. Cows were classified as having 0, 1, 2, or 3 observed estrous cycles before breeding. All traits analyzed were adjusted to constant BCS. Sire breed of the cow influenced length of the PPIE and number of cycles before the start of breeding (P <0.001). Simmental-sired cows had the shortest PPIE and greatest number of cycles before breeding, whereas Limousin-sired cows had the longest PPIE and least number of cycles before breeding. Cows with a greater number of cycles before breeding did not have greater conception rates than cows that had not exhibited standing estrus before breeding (P = 0.87). In cows that cycled before breeding, the length of the estrous cycle immediately before breeding was influenced by dam breed and BCS (P <0.01). Cows out of Hereford dams had shorter estrous cycles than cows out of MARC III or Angus dams, and estrous cycle length increased as BCS increased. Conception rate decreased as length of the estrous cycle immediately before breeding increased (P = 0.05, -2.2% per d of cycle length). Therefore, previously anestrous cows were just as likely to conceive as cows that had cycled before breeding, and an increased number of observed estrous cycles before breeding did not increase conception rates. There may be an influence of the length of estrous cycle immediately before breeding on conception rates, possibly because a longer estrous cycle results in a persistent follicle with greater potential for a lower quality oocyte. Breed differences in PPIE and estrous cycle length suggest that there are genetic components to these traits.  相似文献   

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