A comparison of different breeds and crosses from the suckler herd 1. Live-weight growth and efficiency of food utilization

1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Southgate ◽  
G. L. Cook ◽  
A. J. Kempster
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Food Utilization ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Sire Breed

Live-weight growth and efficiency of food utilization of purebred Galloway, Luing and Welsh Black steers, and crossbred steers out of Blue-Grey and Hereford × Friesian dams by Aberdeen-Angus, Charolais, Devon, Hereford, Limousin, Lincoln Red, Simmental, South Devon and Sussex sires, were examined in two suckled calf fattening systems. In one system, autumn-born calves were purchased at 1 year of age and fattened during their second winter; the other system involved late winter-born calves, which were purchased at 7 months of age, overwintered on a cheap growing diet and fattened during their second summer. The trial involved a total of 1430 cattle and extended over 5 years (winter system) and 6 years (summer system).Cattle were slaughtered as close as possible to a standard carcass subcutaneous fat concentration.The data for crossbred and purebred cattle were analysed separately within the fattening system using least squares models, which included effects for year, sire breed and dam breed, and with regression on the age at beginning of the trial and carcass subcutaneous fat concentration estimated by visual appraisal.Breed differences in live weight at slaughter were similar to those recorded in the Meat and Livestock Commission's on-farm recording work. Among crossbreds, the larger sire breeds consumed more food per day, generally grew faster and were older at slaughter.They did not differ significantly in the efficiency with which food was converted into live-weight gain. Among the purebreds, the Luing had a relatively high daily food intake in relation to its growth rate and, together with the Welsh Black in the summer fattening system, was less efficient than the Galloway (P<0·05).

A comparison of the progeny of British Friesian dams and different sire breeds in 16- and 24-month beef production systems 2. Carcass characteristics, and rate and efficiency of meat gain

1982 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Kempster ◽  
G. L. Cook ◽  
J. R. Southgate
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Mature Size ◽  
Sire Breed ◽  
Better Than

ABSTRACTCarcass characteristics of purebred British Friesian steers and crossbred steers by eight sire breeds out of British Friesian dams, in 16-month and 24-month beef production systems, were compared. Sire breeds included Charolais, Simmental and the main traditional British beef breeds. A total of 579 cattle were involved.The cattle were slaughtered at a fixed level of fatness and the carcasses evaluated using a standardized commercial cutting technique. Data were adjusted to equal carcass subcutaneous fat concentration.Sire breed differences were similar in both feeding systems. Charolais crosses killed-out best and Aberdeen- Angus and Devon crosses poorest; the range was 25 g/kg live weight.Significant differences were recorded between breeds in the proportion of saleable meat in the carcass (P<0·001): Charolais, Sussex and Aberdeen-Angus crosses had the highest values, on average being 15g/kg carcass weight better than purebred Friesians. Breed differences were detected in the proportion of total saleable meat occurring in the higher-priced joints, Simmental and Charolais crosses ranking highest, but the range across sire breeds was only 10 g/kg carcass weight. There were important differences between sire breeds in rate of meat weight gain that were related to mature size.Purebred Friesians were less efficient than either Charolais or Hereford crosses in converting food into meat in the 24-month system. Friesians also had the lowest efficiency and Hereford crosses the highest efficiency in the 16-month system, although the differences were not statistically significant.

A note on the relationship between ultrasonic fat measurement and performance in beef cattle

1978 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-112
Author(s):  
J. B. Moran ◽  
W. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Performance Parameters ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat Thickness ◽  
Fat Thickness ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACTThe development of subcutaneous fat as measured by ultrasonics was determined in 28 Angus, 46 Hereford and 42 Charolais bulls, performance-tested on a barley/grass diet. The ultrasonic fat measurements were then examined for possible relationships with feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion efficiency. There were apparent breed differences in the rate of increase in subcutaneous fat thickness with changing live weight but ultrasonic measurements bore little relationship to performance parameters within any of the three breeds tested.

Growth and food intake curves for group-housed gilts and castrated male pigs

1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Andersen ◽  
B. Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Food Efficiency ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
The Difference

AbstractPolynomial models with random regression coefficients were used to describe cumulated food intake and gain as a function of number of days on test for gilts and castrated male pigs which were on test from 30 to 115 kg live weight. Growth rate and daily food intake were expressed as the derivative of the curves. The applied models allowed a separation of between and within animal variation. Confidence limits for average curves and prediction limits for individual curves were also obtained. A similar model was used to describe gain as a function of cumulated food intake. From this function food efficiency was obtained. The application of the results in stochastic simulation models is discussed.Growth rate and daily food intake had a more curvilinear progress for castrated males than for gilts. It was estimated that 98% of the castrated males and 96% of the gilts had a lower growth rate at day 80 than at day 50; 74% of the castrated males and 48% of the gilts had a lower daily food intake at day 100 than at day 80. On average food efficiency of gilts was higher than food efficiency of castrated males and the difference increased through the test period.

The effect of nutrition on the reproductive performance of first-litter sows 1. Feeding level during lactation, and between weaning and mating

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. King ◽  
I. H. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Factorial Experiment ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Lactation Length ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum

ABSTRACTA factorial experiment was conducted with 80 first-litter sows and involved two levels of feeding during lactation (ad libitum or 2·0 kg/day), and two levels of feeding between weaning and mating (4·0 or 1·5 kg/day).Average lactation length was 32·2 days. Sows given 2·0 kg/day during lactation lost more backfat (6·3 v. 0·9 mm; P < 0·05) and more live weight (36·8 v. 9·1 kg; P < 0·05) during lactation than sows fed ad libitum and whose average daily food intake was 4·47 kg. Sows receiving 20 kg/day during lactation took longer to return to oestrus after weaning. Within 8 days of weaning more sows fed ad libitum during lactation ovulated (0·90 v. 0·40; x2 = 20·0; P < 0·001) and exhibited oestrus (0·78 v. 0·38; x2 = 12·8; P < 0·001) than sows whose food intake throughout lactation was restricted. Ovulation rate, subsequent litter size and embryonic mortality were not significantly affected by feeding level during lactation.Post-weaning feeding level did not affect the interval between weaning and oestrus. However, sows receiving 4·0 kg/day between weaning and mating had higher ovulation rates (14·8 v. 13·0; P < 0·05) and a greater litter size (10·0 v. 8·8; P < 0·1) at the subsequent farrowing.

Feeding Ecology of the Nocturnal Gecko Hemidactylus brookii in Ghana

1980 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.A. Avery
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe diet of Hemidactylus brookii captured at Legon, Ghana, during July was composed entirely of arthropods; Lepidoptera larvae and cockroaches formed 40% of the total weight of food. Daily food intake during the dry season estimated from production of excretory urates was equivalent to that of small diurnal lizards, and given by the relationship F = 20.9W0.51 where F = food consumption in mg dry weight per day and W = live weight in grams. Daily intake during the wet season was variable and often reduced.

Evaluation of British Friesian, Canadian Holstein and beef breed × British Friesian steers slaughtered over a commercial range of fatness from 16-month and 24-month beef production systems 1. Live-weight gain and efficiency of food utilization

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Southgate ◽  
G. L. Cook ◽  
A. J. Kempster
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Food Utilization ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Overall Efficiency ◽  
Breed Crosses ◽  
Sire Breed

ABSTRACTThe live-weight gain (LWG) and efficiency of food utilization of purebred British Friesian and Canadian Holstein steers and of crossbred steers out of British Friesian dams by Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, Lincoln Red, Simmental, South Devon and Sussex sires were examined in two beef production systems. One was similar to the commercial 18-month grass/cereal system (16-month) and the other to a commercial 2-year system (24-month). The cattle were serially slaughtered at three levels of fatness covering the commercial range and determined by the use of the Scanogram ultrasonic machine. The trial extended over 4 years and involved a total of 650 cattle. Data for the two production systems were analysed separately. Changes in growth performance were examined relative to estimated carcass subcutaneous fat content (g/kg; SFC) and sire breed crosses compared at the mean fatness level within system: 65 g/kg SFe for 16-month and 74 g/kg SFe for 24-month.Sire breed differences were not detected (P > 0·05) in the regressions on SFe of age and live weight at slaughter, overall daily LWG and overall efficiency of weight gain. Pooled within sire breed, live at slaughter and age at slaughter increased by 2·5 kg and 2·8 days (16-month) and 2·2 kg and 2·1 days (24-month) for each g/kg increase in SFe.Charolais crosses and Canadian Holsteins were heaviest at equal SFC in both systems, but the latter were 63 days older (16-month) and 42 days older (24-month): Hereford, Lincoln Red and Sussex crosses were lightest and among the youngest in both systems.Sire breed crosses differed significantly in daily LWG: Charolais crosses grew fastest in both systems; the relative growth rate of other sire breed crosses was less consistent between the two although the Hereford crosses and British Friesians grew slowly in both systems. Overall efficiency of LWG (g gain per kg digestible organic matter intake) ranged from 164 to 205 (16-month) and 146 to 171 (24-month). Canadian Holsteins and British Friesians had the lowest efficiency of LWG in both systems of production; differences between the other breeds were not statistically significant (P > 0·05).

Live weights at fixed ages of Dairy Shorthorn, Red Friesian, Red Holstein, Meuse-Rhine-Yssel, Simmental and other sire breed progeny of Dairy Shorthorn, Red Friesian and crossbred dams, and estimates of heterosis and apparent heritability

1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-293
Author(s):  
P. M. Hocking
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Feed Restriction ◽  
Hybrid Vigour ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Two Systems ◽  
Breed Improvement ◽  
Sire Breed

ABSTRACTDairy Shorthorn (DS), Red Friesian (RF), Red Holstein (RH), Danish Red (DR), Meuse-Rhine-Yssel (MR), Simmental (SM), British beef breeds (BB) and hybrid (HY, RF♂ × DS9 and RH♀ × DS?) bulls were progeny tested on DS, RF and HY cows as part of a breed improvement project. Live-weight records for 4 450 animals in 17 herds by 350 sires were used to calculate adjusted hundred-day weights from 100 to 700 days of age. Genotype × environment interactions were significant (P < 0·001) and data for two production systems (cereals and grass) were analysed separately. RF, RH, DR and MR progeny were, proportionally, 0·10 to 012 heavier than DS (P < 0·001). On cereals the SM were significantly heavier than these crosses (0·095, P < 0·001 at 400 days) but not on grass. BB and HY were generally not significantly different from DS. Only DS dams were represented on cereal systems. On grass, breed differences were similar for different dam breeds but estimates of hybrid vigour averaged 0·051 in RF♂ × DS♀, 0·061 in RF♂ × (RF♂ × DS♀)♀ and were not significantly different from zero in DS♂ × (RF♂ × DS♀)♀. Apparent heritability averaged 0·50 ± 0·12 but was lower during a period of feed restriction. The within-breed genetic correlation for live weight on the two systems of production was unity.

The estimation of killing out in cattle from knowledge of breed, and visual appraisal of external fat cover and conformation

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Bailey ◽  
G. L. Cook ◽  
A. J. Kempster ◽  
A. G. Sains
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Beef Breed ◽  
Body Conformation ◽  
Precise Prediction ◽  
Carcass Conformation ◽  
Fat Score ◽  
Milk Marketing ◽  
Visual Assessments ◽  
Sire Breed

ABSTRACTData for a total of 3715 cattle from four sources were used to examine the relative importance of live weight at slaughter, and visual assessments of carcass conformation and subcutaneous fat cover, as predictors of killing out. The sources were the Meat and Livestock Commission's beef breed evaluation programme (1689 steers of different breeds and crosses), the beef demonstration unit at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh (814 commercial dairy-bred cattle), an East Anglian abattoir (405 commercial cattle) and the Milk Marketing Board's Warren Farm (807 dairy-bred steers by different sire breeds). An assessment of live body conformation was also examined as a predictor in the Warren Farm data.Carcass conformation provided a more precise prediction of killing out than did either live weight or subcutaneous fat score. Regression coefficients in the different groups ranged from 5·4 to 12·0 g/kg for each increase in conformation class (six-point scale). The live conformation assessment was a less precise predictor (within sire breed residual s.d. = 17·7 g/kg) than the carcass assessment (15·6 g/kg).

A comparison of different breeds and crosses from the suckler herd 2. Carcass characteristics

1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Kempster ◽  
G. L. Cook ◽  
J. R. Southgate
Keyword(s):  
Classification Scheme ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Meat Yield ◽  
Ultrasonic Machine ◽  
Sire Breed ◽  
Winter Fattening

ABSTRACTA comparison was made of the carcass characteristics of purebred Galloway, Luing and Welsh Black steers, and crossbred steers out of Blue-Grey and Hereford × Friesian dams by Aberdeen-Angus, Charolais, Devon, Hereford, Limousin, Lincoln Red, Simmental, South Devon and Sussex sires, in winter and summer fattening systems. A total of 1430 cattle were involved and the trial extended over 6 years.The cattle were slaughtered when their fatness was estimated, using the Scanogram ultrasonic machine, to be in fat class 3L of the Meat and Livestock Commission Beef Carcase Classification Scheme. Carcasses were evaluated using a standardized commercial cutting technique.The data for crossbred and purebred cattle were analysed separately within the fattening system using leastsquares models, which included effects for year, sire breed and dam breed, and with regression on age at the beginning of the trial and carcass subcutaneous fat concentration estimated by visual appraisal.Limousin and Charolais crosses killed out best. Their carcass weights were, on average, 20g/kg live weight heavier than those of Aberdeen-Angus, Devon, Hereford and Lincoln Red crosses. There was a range of 20 to 30 g/kg carcass weight between sire breeds in carcass saleable meat yield: the highest values were recorded for the Limousin crosses (evaluated on winter fattening only) followed by Charolais and Aberdeen-Angus crosses; Lincoln Red crosses had the lowest values among the crossbreds and Luing cattle among the purebreds. These differences were more a reflexion of differences in fat trim than of differences in meat to bone ratio.Continental sire breeds had significantly more of their total saleable meat in the higher-priced cuts (P<0·05), although the range between sire breeds was only 15 g/kg.

The effect of nutrition on the reproductive performance of first-litter sows 3. The response to graded increases in food intake during lactation

1986 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. King ◽  
A. C. Dunkin
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Nitrogen Balance ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Mating Interval ◽  
Linear Regressions

ABSTRACTSeventy-two animals were used in an experiment to study the response of first-litter sows to graded increases in daily food intake during a 28-day lactation. Six food intakes, ranging from 1·5 to 4·8 kg/day were compared. The results showed that both live-weight loss and backfat loss during lactation increased linearly as food intake decreased (P < 0·01).Subsequent ovulation rate was unaffected by food intake but both weaning to mating interval (Y,, days) and the proportion of sows exhibiting oestrus within 8 days of weaning (Y2)improve d linearly with increase in daily food intake during lactation (X, kg) (P < 0·01); the respective linear regressions being Y, = 39·0 - 6·26 and Y2 = 0·198A - 0·15. A sub-group of 24 gilts which were older at first conception (340·5 v. 213·5 days; P < 0·01) exhibited oestrus sooner after their first litters were weaned (12·8 v. 22·1 days; P < 0·05) than the remaining 48 younger animals.Nitrogen balance increased linearly with food intake (P < 0·01) but even at the highest food intake, nitrogen balance remained negative (−15·5 g N per day). Food intake had no effect on the growth rate of piglets to 3 weeks of age but in the 4th week of lactation there was a quadratic increase in piglet growth rate as sow food intake increased (P < 0·01).

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