Comparative drought resistance of Bos indicus and Bos taurus crossbred herds in central Queensland. 2. Relative mortality rates, calf birth weights, and weights and weight changes of breeding cows

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (61) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
JE Frisch
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Method Of Least Squares ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mature Weight

The mortality rates, weight changes and associated effects of a. draught in 1969 were observed in a herd of Shorthorn x Hereford (SH), Brahman x SH (BX) and Africander x SH (AX) crossbred cows and small herds of purebred Brahman and Africander cows at 'Belmont', Queensland. About half of the cows calved over a two month period from mid-October 1969. All the cows were weighed in February 1968, February and October 1969 and in January 1970 and the data from the crossbreds analysed by the method of least squares. The weights and weight changes of both the calving and non-calving groups followed a similar pattern though the weight changes of the non-calving group were of greater magnitude. The weights showed that the three crossbreds reached the same mature weight but at different rates. The SH cows reached mature weight least rapidly, had the highest mean weight loss during the drought and had the lowest mean gains after the season broke. Weight changes both during and after the drought were however dependent on lactational status in February 1969. The mean weight loss of cows that weaned a calf in 1969 (wet) was similar for all breeds. However, the mean loss of the dry SH cows was significantly greater than that of the dry BX and AX cows. Previously wet cows exhibited compensatory gains after calving but the gain of the wet SH cows was the lowest of the crossbred means. The mean birth weight of the SH calves was reduced below the long term mean by about 4 kg but birthweights of BX and AX calves were similar to those in other years. During the drought the purebred Brahmans lost the least and the purebred Africanders lost the most weight of all breeds. However, the nature of the data precludes any strict comparisons from being drawn. Mortality rates of breeding cows were recorded from 1960 to 1969. Rates were generally highest for the SH, particularly in the drought years of 1965 and 1969. Some reasons are advanced which may explain the differences in performance of the breed types.

Comparative mortality rates of Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle in central Queensland

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (61) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
JE Frisch
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Adult Mortality ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Annual Mortality ◽  
Zebu Breed ◽  
Zebu Cows

A study was made over several years of lifetime mortality rates of both purebred Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds and of several generations of crosses between the breeds. Of 4,678 calves born during the period, 4.7 per cent died at or within one week of birth. A further 2.3 per cent of those remaining died before weaning and a further 1.1 per cent died from weaning to 15 months. Sixteen of 22 calves born as twins were perinatal mortalities. Perinatal losses were highest in purebred Zebus (Africander and Brahman) and in first generation Brahman crossbred (BX) calves. Africander crossbreds (AX) generally had the lowest mortality rates of all crossbreds at each stage of the life cycle. Perinatal mortalities were however high in both F1 AX and F1 BX calves born to primiparous purebred British (Hereford and Shorthorn) heifers. Over all crossbred generations, perinatal mortalities were highest in calves from 3-year-old heifers and decreased with age of dam. More males (4.7 per cent) than females (2.9 per cent) died at or near birth. Mortalities in F1 BX males (10.3 per cent) were the highest of all groups. Relatively high or low birth weight was associated with high perinatal mortalities in the crossbreeds. Losses of stock after weaning were generally higher in the British breed-types than in the Zebu breed-types with the greatest differences in adult mortality rates. Annual mortality rates of breeding cows of each breed were studied over a similar period. 9,537 cow years were involved in the study. Mortality rates of both purebred and crossbred British cows were higher than for purebred and crossbred Zebu cows. One contributing cause was the difference in numbers of cows of each breed that died while calving. In all, 1.4 per cent of British crossbred calvings resulted in the death of the cow compared with 0.6 and 0.3 per cent for comparable AX and BX cows. Losses were negligible in purebred Zebus. Mortality rates in adults generally increased slowly with age and were highest in 8 - 10-year-old cows.

Comparative drought resistance of Bos indicus and Bos taurus crossbred herds in Central Queensland. 1. Relative weights and weight changes of maiden heifers

1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (56) ◽  
pp. 231 ◽  
Author(s):  
JE Frisch
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Weight Losses ◽  
Breeding Station ◽  
Nutritional Conditions ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference

Observations were made during a drought in Queensland in 1969 of the comparative weight changes of Brahman X British (BX), Africander X British (AX), and British X British (SH) crossbred heifers which were grazed together under field conditions at the National Cattle Breeding Station 'Belmont', Queensland. The animals were weighed in February and October, 1969, and in January 1970. At all weighings the BX heifers were significantly heavier than both the AX and the SH heifers and the AX were significantly heavier than the SH. From February 1969 to October 1969, when nutritional conditions were most severe, the mean weight loss of the breeds was 42.1 kg. Breed differences in absolute weight losses were not significant but were least for the BX. When the weight losses were adjusted for differences in initial weight, the BX lost 34.9 kg, the AX lost 39.3 kg and the SH heifers lost 50.5 kg. The difference between the Zebu crossbreds (AX and BX) was not significant. From October 1969 to January 1970 the pasture conditions improved and the mean gain of the breeds was 52.1 kg. The BX heifers gained 55.8 kg, 7.4 kg more than the SH heifers. From February 1969 to January 1970, BX and AX heifers gained 12.0 kg and 8.2 kg respectively more than the SH heifers (3.7 kg) ; the difference between the Zebu crossbreds was not significant. Purebred Brahman and Africander heifers lost less weight than any of the crossbreds from February 1969 to October 1969 and made only slightly lower gains from October 1969 to January 1970. Overall gains from February 1969 to January 1970 were highest in the purebred Brahmans. Some possible reasons for the differences in breed performance are advanced.

Lamb survival in two hill flocks

1959 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Purser ◽  
G. B. Young
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Age Structure ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Lamb Survival

The effects of birth weight, maternal age and parity on survival of single lambs have been studied in a Blackface and a Welsh Mountain flock.In both flocks the maximum survival rate was found to occur among lambs with birth weights just above the mean. Mortality increased as lambs' birth weight increased or decreased from the optimum, but was especially heavy at the lower extreme of the range of birth weights.Mortality decreased with age of dam to 14·3% for lambs from 4- to 6-year-old Blackface ewes and to 9·4% for lambs of 3- to 4-year-old Welsh ewes. Ewes having their first lambs gave mortality rates twice as great as for the mature ewes in the same flocks. The lower chances of survival of first born lambs irrespective of dam's age accounts for the apparent trend of mortality with maternal age in the Blackface.Changes in mortality rates associated with variation in lamb's birth weight and with the age structure of the ewe flock were estimated. Possible means of improvement of survival rate are discussed.

scholarly journals Effect of hormonal growth promotants on palatability and carcass traits of various muscles from steer and heifer carcasses from a Bos indicus - Bos taurus composite cross

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 1415 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Watson ◽  
R. Polkinghorne ◽  
A. Gee ◽  
M. Porter ◽  
J. M. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Cooking Methods ◽  
Triceps Brachii ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Psoas Major

The effect of several different hormonal growth promotant (HGP) implant strategies on the palatability and carcass traits of different muscles in beef carcasses was investigated using samples from heifer and steer carcasses from a Bos indicus composite breed. In experiment 1, there were seven different implant strategies evaluated in heifers that were given different combinations of up to three implants (implanted at weaning, during backgrounding and at feedlot entry). A total of 112 heifers were slaughtered and 11 muscles or portions were collected from both sides [Mm. adductor femoris, gracilus, semimembranosus, longissimus dorsi lumborum, triceps brachii caput longum, semispinalis capitis, serratus ventralis cervicis, spinalis dorsi, biceps femoris (syn. gluteobiceps), tensor fasciae latae, gluteus medius (both the ‘D’ and the ‘eye’ portions) rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis]. These muscles were used to prepare a total of 1030 sensory samples which were aged for either 7 or 21 days and frozen. Thawed samples were cooked using different cooking methods (grill, roast and stir frying) before being evaluated by a consumer taste panel that scored samples for tenderness, juiciness, like flavour and overall liking. Experiment 2 used the steer portion from the same calving, which were treated to a similar array of HGP strategies, except that they were given up to four implants between weaning and slaughter at ~3 years of age. In experiment 2, there was a total of 12 different HGP implant strategies tested. At boning, three muscles (Mm. psoas major, longisimuss dorsi thoracis and lumborum portions) were collected from each of 79 carcasses with a total of 237 steak samples that consumers tested as grilled steaks. For both experiments, the mean of the HGP implant strategies resulted in increased ossification scores (P < 0.05) and decreased marbling scores (P < 0.05) compared with the controls, with the effect on ossification being much larger in the older steer groups. In both experiments, the different HGP strategies decreased (P < 0.05) all sensory scores compared with the controls, for all cooking method and muscle combinations. In experiment 1, there was no interaction between the mean HGP effect and muscle (P > 0.05), and aging rates differed among the muscles (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, there was a significant (P < 0.05) muscle × HGP treatment interaction, with a decrease in tenderness score due to HGP implant strategies in the M. longisimuss thoracis and lumborum portions, compared with no significant effect in the M. psoas major. For both experiments, there were no significant differences among the different implantation strategies on sensory scores (P > 0.05).

The thickness of cattle skin

1955 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 776 ◽  
Author(s):  
DF Dowling
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Sweat Glands ◽  
Skin Thickness ◽  
Hot Environment ◽  
Early Maturing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Critical Characteristics ◽  
Thick Skin ◽  
Active Sweat Glands

The mean total skin thicknesses (mm) for the breeds sampled were: Devon 8.15, Hereford 6.7, Zebu cross 6.43, Australian Illawarra Shorthorn 6.23, Friesian 6.0, Zebu 5.77, Aberdeen Angus 5.75, Shorthorn 5.69, and Jersey 5.46. The early maturing Shorthorn (Bos taurus L.) and the Zebu (Bos indicus L.) differed significantly in the depth of the papillary and reticular layers, and in the relative thickness of these skin layers. The mean thickness for the papillary layer; was 0.98 mm in the Zebu, 1.40 mm in the Zebu cross, and 1.70 mm in the Shorthorn. Thus the larger, more active sweat glands of the Zebu are more superficial. The corresponding reticular layer averaged 4.45 mm in the Zebu, 4.5 mm in the Zebu cross, and 4.08 mm in the Shorthorn. The thickness of the papillary layer relative to the total skin thickness was 18.3, 23.7, and 29.3 per cent., for the Zebu, Zebu cross, and Shorthorn respectively. The Zebu and the Jersey have relatively thin skins. Therefore a thick skin is not essential for adaptability to a hot environment. Inherent differences in the function of the follicles and the glands of the papillary layer may be critical characteristics for heat tolerance.

Lamb mortality in a flock of East African Blackheaded sheep

1966 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. M. Trail ◽  
G. D. Sacker
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
East African ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Overall Mortality

1. The effects of birth weight, sex, twinning, parity of dam and dry season on mortality rates of lambs were studied between birth and weaning at 20 weeks in a flock of East African Blackheaded sheep.2. The mean birth weights of non-surviving lambs were lower than those of surviving lambs. Singles from gimmers and twins from ewes were 0.5 and 1.0 lb., respectively, lighter at birth, and had higher mortality rates than singles from ewes. The overall mortality rate of singles from ewes was 16%, singles from gimmers 20% and twins from ewes 28%. Male and female lambs born alive had similar mortality rates (18%).

Evaluation of Bos indicus and Bos taurus straightbreds and crosses. II. Post-weaning growth, puberty, and pelvic size of heifers

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 795 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Hearnshaw ◽  
PF Arthur ◽  
R Barlow ◽  
PJ Kohun ◽  
RE Darnell
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
The Other ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Medium Quality ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pelvic Size

Post-weaning growth and body condition, puberty and pelvic size of 197 heifers comprising straightbred Hereford (HxH) and Brahman (BxB), first-cross (BxH) and back-cross (HxBH and BxBH) heifers were evaluated. The heifers were born over a 3 year period, and grazed improved and semi-improved pastures following weaning at Grafton, New South Wales. Prior to weaning, heifers had been reared by dams on three pasture systems (high, medium and low quality pastures). Heifers from low quality pre-weaning pasture had higher (P < 0.05) post-weaning liveweight gain than those from high and medium quality pastures. BxH heifers gained 71 g/day more (P < 0.05) than the mean gain of their contemporaries of the other genotypes, whose gains were similar, from weaning to either 26 or to 30 months of age. Liveweight at all ages was influenced by genotype x pre-weaning pasture system interaction. At 30 months of age, BxH heifers from high and medium pre-weaning pastures were the heaviest. At the same age, but from low quality pre-weaning pasture, heifers with crossbred dams (HxBH and BxBH) were the heaviest. Wither height depended significantly (P < 0.05) on the proportion of Bos indicus genes, increasing from 113.8 cm in the HxH heifers to 124.4 cm in the BxB heifers at 30 months of age. BxH heifers had a higher (P < 0.05) body condition score than their contemporaries of the other genotypes, which were in similar condition, at 26 and 30 months of age. On average (across pre-weaning pasture system), 9% of BxB heifers had reached puberty by 22 months of age compared to 62, 95, 82 and 64% (s.e.= 9) for HxH, HxBH, BxH and BxBH heifers respectively. No significant genotype differences were obtained in the height, width and size of the pelvic opening of the heifers, measured just prior to the beginning of the mating season at 26 months of age.

179 COMPARISON OF OOCYTE AND EMBRYO PRODUCTION AMONG BOS TAURUS, BOS INDICUS, AND INDICUS-TAURUS DONOR COWS

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 248 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. F. Pontes ◽  
K. C. F. Silva ◽  
A. C. Basso ◽  
C. R. Ferreira ◽  
G. M. G. Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Embryo Production ◽  
Total N ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Donor Cows

In recent years, Brazil has become the leading country in the world for the number of embryos produced in vitro (Thibier M 2009 IETS Embryo Transfer Newsletter 22, 12-19). This is partly due to the large numbers of Bos indicus animals in Brazil, making up about 80% of the total cattle. The mean oocyte production per ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration from Bos indicus is higher than those for European breeds (Pontes JHF et al. 2009 Theriogenology 71, 690-697). In the present study, we analyzed 5407 ovum pick ups (OPU) and compared the average production of total (n = 90,086) and viable (n = 64,826) oocytes and the number of embryos produced in vitro from Gir (Bos taurus indicus), Holstein (Bos taurus taurus), 1/4 Holstein × 3/4 Gir, and 1/2 Holstein-Gir crossbreed cows. To obtain oocytes, OPU was repeated from 4 to 7 times (mean = 5.7 ± 2.4) in each donor cow aged from 3 to 7 years (mean = 5.0 ± 2.3) during a 12-mo period. COCs (n = 90,086) obtained were classified according to the presence of cumulus cells and the oocyte cytoplasm aspect (homogeneous or heterogeneous/fragmented). The viable oocytes (n = 64,826) were in vitro matured for 24 h at 38.8°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. Since this was a commercial programm, frozen sexed semen (2 × 106 mL-1) from Gir (n = 8) or Holstein (n = 7) sires previously tested for high efficiency was used for IVF. Fertilization was carried out (18-20 h) and the presumed embryos were cultured for 7 days in the same conditions as were used for IVM. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. On average, 16.7 ± 6.2 oocytes were obtained per OPU/IVF procedure and 71.96% were considered viable. The mean numbers of total oocytes per OPU/IVF procedure were 17.1 ± 4.4 for Gir cows (n = 617), 11.4 ± 3.9 for Holstein cows (n = 180), 20.4 ± 5.8 for 1/4 Holstein × 3/4 Gir (n = 44), and 31.4 ± 5.6 for 1/2 Holstein-Gir crossbreed females (n = 37, P < 0.01). The mean numbers of viable oocytes per OPU/IVF procedure were 12.1 ± 3.8 for Gir cows, 8.0 ± 2.6 for Holstein cows, 16.8, ± 5.0 for 1/4 Holstein × 3/4 Gir, and 24.3 ± 4.7 for 1/2 Holstein-Gir crossbreed females (P < 0.01). The average number of embryos produced by OPU/IVF were 3.2 (n = 12,243/3378) for Gir cows, 2.2 (n = 2426/1138) for Holstein cows, 3.9 (n = 1033/267) for 1/4 Holstein × 3/4 Gir, and 5.5 (n = 1222/224) for 1/2 Holstein-Gir. The average number of embryos produced per IVF session from 1/2 taurus × indicus donor cows was greater (P < 0.01) than from Bos indicus cows. The number of recoverable and viable oocytes and the number of embryos produced in vitro from Bos indicus donors were higher than from Bos taurus females. Therefore, the highest oocyte yield and the greatest embryo production were obtained from 1/2 taurus × indicus females. This work was supported by In Vitro Brasil.

Effects of weaning and supplementation on performance of Brahman cross cows and their progeny

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
RG Holroyd ◽  
GWJ Mason ◽  
ID Loxton ◽  
PT Knights ◽  
PK O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Early Weaning ◽  
Monoammonium Phosphate ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Native Pastures

In a 3-year study in the dry tropics, 2 management practices of dry season supplementation of cows and early weaning of calves were concurrently examined as possible techniques for improving reproductive, liveweight and survival performance of Brahman cross cows (phenotypically 1/2 - 3/4 Bos indicus) grazing native pastures. Cows were either supplemented with a drylick mixture of salt, urea and sulfur (DL) commencing in July for 4-6 months; supplemented with a crisis mixture of salt, urea, grain, molasses, meatmeal and monoammonium phosphate (CM) in the latter part of the dry season; or were not supplemented (C). Mating commenced in January, and calves were either early weaned (EW) at the end of mating in April (mean age of 5 months) or late weaned (LW) in July (mean age of 8 months). Supplements and weaning treatments had little effect on cow liveweight, except between early weaning and late weaning when EW cows gained more or lost less weight (mean advantage of 30.8 kg) than LW cows and were heavier (mean advantage of 44.8 kg) than LW cows at late weaning time. Across all years, 1.4, 2.1 and 4.2% of cows in DL, CM and C groups respectively died from malnutrition or required survival feeding; whereas, in the second and third years, mortality rates due to malnutrition were 0.7 and 2.1% in EW and LW groups respectively. Neither supplement nor weaning treatments had any significant effect on lactating cow pregnancy rates, although data pooled across treatments showed that liveweights at various stages pre-mating were correlated with pregnancy rate. Supplementation or weaning treatments did not influence calving date or birth weight, but LW calves grew significantly faster (mean advantage of 0.52 kg/day) between early weaning and late weaning and were significantly heavier (mean advantage of 57.4 kg) at late weaning than EW calves.

scholarly journals Utilization of low-quality roughage byBos taurusandBos indicuscattle

1985 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Hunter ◽  
B. D. Siebert
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
Plasma Urea ◽  
Mean Retention Time ◽  
Digitaria Decumbens ◽  
Breed Difference ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

1. In a number of experiments voluntary food intake of three low-quality roughages, either alone or supplemented with rumen-degradable nitrogen and sulphur and minerals, was measured in Brahman (Bos indicus) and Hereford (Bos taurus) steers. The chaffed hays were Spear grass (Heteropogon conform) (6.2 g N/kg organic matter (OM)), Pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) (7.9 g N/kg OM), and Pangola grass (12.0 g N/kg OM). Rumen characteristics relating to rate of fluid outflow from the rumen were also determined.2. There was no significant difference between breeds in the dry-matter intakes of the unsupplemented diets which ranged from 11.3 to 17.8 g/kg body-weight (BW) by Herefords and from 11.8 to 16.1 g/kg BW by Brahmans.3. Supplementation of Spear grass with N and S significantly (P < 0.05) increased intake by Herefords (24%) but not by Brahmans. When the lower-N Pangola grass was supplemented there was a significant increase in intake by both breeds with the magnitude of the response in Herefords (42%) (P < 0.001) being greater than that in Brahmans (15%) (P < 0.05). The intakes of both the supplemented Spear grass and the lower-N Pangola diets were significantly (P < 0.05) greater by Herefords than Brahmans. There was no breed difference in intake when the higher-N Pangola grass was supplemented. Both breeds recorded an 8% intake response to supplementation, although the increase was only significant (P < 0.05) in Herefords.4. The mean retention time of fluid in the rumen on the unsupplemented Pangola grass diet of lower N content was 12.7 h in Brahmans compared with 17.5 h in Herefords (P < 0.01). When the higher-N Pangola was fed, both alone and supplemented, the mean retention times were similar on both diets (10.5 and 9.9 h for Herefords; 9.5 and 8.1 h for Brahmans for unsupplemented and supplemented diets respectively).5. Plasma urea concentrations were higher in Brahmans than in Herefords on all diets. Rumen ammonia concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in Brahmans than Herefords when the lower-N Pangola grass diet was unsupplemented.6. The intakes and the variable intake responses to supplementation between breeds and diets are discussed in relation to a number of animal and dietary factors.

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