Factors affecting birth weight and performance to weaning of Bunaji calves

1988 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 407-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. O. Oni ◽  
V. Buvanendran ◽  
N. I. Dim
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Genetic Differences ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Sources Of Variation ◽  
And Performance

Birth weight and pre-weaning performance are recognized as important components in determing economic returns from beef cattle. The accuracy of ranking animals based on their breeding values, and hence the effectiveness of selection, will be increased when allowance is made for non-genetic sources of variation. Furthermore, the proper evaluation of identifiable sources of variation in calf weaning weight aids in more accurate appraisal of genetic differences in mothering ability among beef cows.

scholarly journals Factors affecting growth traits of beef cattle breeds raised inSlovakia

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 14-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Krupa ◽  
M. Oravcová ◽  
P. Polák ◽  
J. Huba ◽  
Z. Krupová
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
General Linear Model ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Sex Effect ◽  
Beef Cattle Breeds

Growth traits of purebred calves of six beef breeds (Aberdeen Angus – AA, Blonde d’Aquitaine – BA, Charolais – CH,Hereford – HE, Limousine – LI and Beef Simmental – BS) born from 1998 to 2002 were analysed. Traits under study were birth weight (BW), weight at 120 days (W120), weight at 210 days – weaning weight (WW), weight at 365 days – yearling weight (YW) and average daily gains from birth to 120 days (ADG1), from birth to 210 days (ADG2), from birth to 365 days (ADG3), from 120 to 210 days (ADG4). General linear model with class effects of breed, dam’s age at calving, sex, herd-year-season (HYS) and covariation of age at weighing was used for analyses. All effects significantly affected both weight and gain traits except for dam’s age that was significant for BW, W120, YW and ADG3, and age at weighing that was significant for W120, WW, YW, ADG2, ADG3, ADG4. Estimated least squares means of growth traits were compared using Scheffe’s multiple-range tests. Highest BW (40.57 kg) and W120 (172.43 kg) were found for BA calves. BS calves had highest WW (260.30 kg), YW (424.07 kg), ADG1 (1 154 g), ADG2 (1 053 g), ADG3 (1 054 g) and ADG4 (1 098 g). Highest BW, YW, ADG3 and ADG4 were found for males-singles. Males-twins had highest W120, WW, ADG1 and ADG2. Calves descending from 5–7 years old dams had highest BW, W120, WW, ADG1, ADG2 and ADG4. The proportion of variability of growth traits explained by HYS effect (42.96–71.69%) was high, whereas proportions of variability explained by SEX effect (2.03–5.77%), age of dam (1.02–2.24%) and breed (1.05–2.21%) were low. Residuals accounted for 23.71 up to 53.79% of total variance.  

Estimation of genetic differences between Mashona bulls from different production systems using an animal

1994 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-463
Author(s):  
C. T. Khombe ◽  
J. F. Hayes ◽  
H. P. R. Tawonezvi ◽  
M. Khombe
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Genetic Differences ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Indigenous Cattle ◽  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
The Mean

SUMMARYThis paper reports genetic differences between 20 Mashona bulls from smallholder farms, 14 from Makoholi Research Station, three from commercial farms and two reference sires, in Zimbabwe. An animal model, fitted through the derivative free Restricted Maximum Likelihood program (DFREML), was used to analyse 707 birth weight and 623 weaning weight records. Both the mean breeding values of the reference sires and the ranch bulls were significantly (P < 0·05) higher than the mean breeding values of smallholder bulls for birth weight (by 1·6 and 1·7 kg, respectively) and weaning weight (by 10·4 and 11·0 kg, respectively). However, seven of the 20 bulls from smallholder farms were among the top 45% of bulls with high breeding values for both birth and weaning weight. The mean breeding value of bulls from Makoholi was not different from any of the other groups, for all traits studied. It was proposed that future efforts to form nucleus herds to improve the weaning weights of indigenous cattle should include the genetic pool in smallholder farms.

Relationship between expected progeny differences of Canadian Hereford sires and performance of their progeny in commercial herds

1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 555-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Basarab ◽  
D. Milligan ◽  
J. Stitt
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Genetic Differences ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Calving Ease ◽  
Ease Score ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Expected Progeny Differences

Sire expected progeny differences (EPDs) for calf birth, weaning and yearling weight predicted genetic differences between progeny of sires. A 1-kg change in birth weight EPD corresponded to a 1.06 ± 0.14 kg (P < 0.001) change in actual calf birth weight. A 1-kg change in weaning weight EPD or yearling weight EPD corresponded to a 0.45 ± 0.18 kg (P = 0.012) change in 200-d weaning weight or a 0.78 ± 0.15 kg (P < 0.001) change in 365-d yearling weight. Calving ease EPD was not related (0.37 ± 0.27; P = 0.17) to calving ease score. Key words: EPD, calving ease, birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight

scholarly journals Some Environmental Factors Affecting Birth Weight, Weaning Weight and Daily Live Weight Gain of Holstein Calves

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erdal Yaylak ◽  
Hikmet Orhan ◽  
Alim Daşkaya
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Weaning Age ◽  
Humidity Index ◽  
Holstein Calves

The present study was conducted to determine some environmental factors affecting birth weight, weaning weight and daily live weight gain of Holstein calves of a livestock facility in Izmir, Turkey. The data on 2091 calves born between the years 2005-2010 were used to assess the relevant parameters. Effects of calving year, calving month, calf gender and the interaction between calving year and calving month on calves’ birth weights were highly significant. The overall mean of birth weights was 39.6±0.15 kg. In addition, effects of calving year, calving month, gender, birth weight, weaning age, calving year x calving month, calving year x gender and calving year x calving month x gender interactions on weaning weight (WW) and daily live weight gain (DLWG) were highly significant. The overall means of WW and DLWG were respectively found to be 79.7±0.20 kg and 525±2.5 g. A one kilogram increase in birth weight resulted in an increase of 0.89 kg in weaning weight and a decrease of 1.26 g in daily live weight gain. Prenatal temperature-humidity index (THI) affected birth weight of calves (R2=0.67). Increasing THI from 50 to 80 resulted in 3.8 kg decrease in birth weight.

scholarly journals Selection of a suitable definition of environment for the estimation of genotype × environment interaction in the weaning weight of beef cattle

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 407-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Vostrý ◽  
J. Přibyl ◽  
V. Jakubec ◽  
Z. Veselá ◽  
I. Majzlík
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Ratio Test ◽  
Residual Variance ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Genotype Environment Interaction ◽  
And Performance

Genotype by environment interactions for weaning weight in beef cattle were tested using several definitions of environments. Four breeds of beef cattle (Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Beef Simmental, and Charolais) were represented. The environments were defined according to five criteria: altitude, production areas, economic value of the land, less favourable areas, and performance levels of a breed within herds. Ten mixed models were compared including the effects of direct and maternal genetics, herd-year-season, maternal permanent environmental, breed, environment, genotype × environment interaction, sex of calf, and age of dam. The suitability of the models was tested by Akaike’s Information Criterion, likelihood ratio test, and magnitude of the residual variance. The most suitable definitions of environment were less favoured areas and herd levels of performance. Estimates of direct heritability ranged from 0.07 to 0.19. Genotype × environment interactions should be included in a genetic evaluation model for interbreed comparisons of beef cattle in the Czech Republic.

Bayesian analysis of selection for greater weaning weight while maintaining birth weight in beef cattle

2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (10) ◽  
pp. 3089-3096 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Melucci ◽  
A. N. Birchmeier ◽  
E. P. Cappa ◽  
R. J. C. Cantet
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Bayesian Analysis ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Selection For

EFFECTS OF YEARLING WEIGHT SELECTION IN SHORTHORN BEEF CATTLE ON AGE-OF-DAM ADJUSTMENT FACTORS

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 963-965
Author(s):  
J. C. OLTHOFF ◽  
G. H. CROW ◽  
G. W. RAHNEFELD
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Selection Line ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Performance Change ◽  
Adjustment Factors ◽  
Over Time

Lines within a breed which differ in their level of performance may require different age-of-dam adjustment factors in the same way that different breeds do. Age-of-dam adjustments calculated from a control and a yearling weight selection line indicated lower values in the selected line for calf birth weight, weaning weight and yearling weight for 2- and 4-yr-old dams. Trends for adjustment factors in each line over time were generally not significant but tended to diverge. Age-of-dam adjustment factors within a breed may need to be reevaluated at intervals as levels of performance change. Key words: Beef cattle, age of dam adjustment, selection, yearling weight

EFFECT OF WINTER WEIGHT LOSS IN HEREFORD COWS ON SUBSEQUENT CALF PERFORMANCE TO WEANING

1979 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 635-637
Author(s):  
S. D. M. JONES ◽  
M. A. PRICE ◽  
R. T. BERG
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Calf Performance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Daily Gain

The effect of winter weight loss in Hereford cows on calf birth weight and performance to weaning was examined over a period of 4 yr. The average winter weight loss of cows (60 ± 36.2 kg mean ± SD) over the period of this study had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on calf birth weight, but no significant (P > 0.05) effect on the pre-weaning daily gain, or weaning weight of their calves.

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