Effects of once-yearly weaning on some aspects of herd productivity in an extensive herd in the semi-arid tropics of northern Australia

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
RM Sullivan ◽  
PK O'Rourke ◽  
DJ Robertson ◽  
D Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
The Other ◽  
First Year ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Compensatory Gain ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
Semi Arid

Cow reproductive rates, mortalities and liveweights, and steer growth rates from a herd of 500 Bos indicus - Bos taurus cross cows and their progeny were recorded over a period of 4 years from June 1981. The cattle grazed native pastures and were not supplemented. Cows which had a calf of more than 100 kg in June were allocated to 2 treatments: weaned and unweaned. Where the calf weighed less than this amount, cows were allocated to a separate 'young calf group. In the year following branding, weaning increased (P<0.05) conception rate from 73.9 to 93.8% and reduced (P<0.05) cow mortality rate from 14.1 to 4.5%, relative to the unweaned group. On average, weaned cows conceived 3 months earlier (P<0.05) than the other 2 groups, in November, and 27% of weaned cows subsequently calved out of season the following year, compared to 4% of the other groups. This affected subsequent weaning management by increasing the number of calves too young to wean in June. Weaned steers grew at a reduced (P<0.05) rate during the first year post-weaning. Despite compensatory gain in the next 2 years, they were still 26 kg lighter (P<0.05) than their unweaned counterparts at 3.5 years of age.

A comparison of once- and twice-yearly weaning of an extensive herd in northern Australia

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Sullivan ◽  
P. K. O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
Poor Nutrition

Summary. In northern Australia, many cows conceive only after their calves are weaned. The subsequent calves are born in the late wet or early dry season. Where producers wean once a year these late calves stay with the cows with resultant increased risk of cow mortality. A second weaning may reduce this risk. From June 1985 to June 1990 we recorded cow liveweights, mortalities and reproductive rates from a herd of 500 Bos indicus-Bos taurus-cross cows at Kidman Springs, Northern Territory. The herd grazed native pastures, and was continuously mated and unsupplemented. Calves were weaned if they weighed 100 kg or more at muster in June (W1) or in either of June and October (W2). In both groups (W1 and W2), 75% of calves were weaned at the June muster, and a further 14% were weaned at the October muster (W2 group). There was no difference in liveweight change, mortality or branding rates between the 2 groups. Overall productivity was low, probably due to poor nutrition during both dry and wet seasons. For example, average branding and mortality rates were 51.8 and 11.8%. Forty-seven percent of all cows were pregnant at the June muster but a quarter of these failed to rear a calf. The low proportion of calves suitable for weaning in October indicated that the weaning times were too close together, and did not allow enough late calves to reach the target liveweight for weaning. Consequently, the benefit of the second weaning was reduced. Weaning times for continuously mated herds should be determined by the time taken for calves born late in the wet season to reach target liveweights for weaning at the second weaning round. Effectively, this means the first weaning should be earlier, perhaps in April, since high temperatures and the increased likelihood of rain make mustering after October difficult.

A comparison of once- and twice-yearly weaning of an extensive herd in northern Australia

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Sullivan ◽  
P. K. O'Rourke ◽  
J. A. Neale
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
First Year ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Breeding Herd ◽  
Beef Herds ◽  
Native Pastures

Summary. Continuous mating is common in northern Australian beef herds. The resulting calves are born throughout the year making weaning and herd management difficult. Calves born late in the wet season do not reach suitable liveweight for weaning until late in the year. Low liveweight and poor feed conditions make management of these animals for subsequent turnoff or breeding more difficult. We recorded the growth and survival of all progeny and reproductive performance of heifers from 2 groups of 250 Bos indicus-Bos taurus-cross cows grazing native pastures at Kidman Springs, Northern Territory, for 5 years from July 1985. Calves were weaned in June only (W1) or June and October (W2). Unweaned calves remained with their dams until June the following year and heifers entered the breeding herd as 2 year olds. Calves weaned in June (WJ) were heaviest (157.1 kg; P<0.05) but gained least (84.6 kg; P<0.05) over the following year. Unweaned (UW) calves were lighter (51.1 kg; P<0.05) at branding time, in June, than those weaned in October (WO; 66.8 kg). However, they gained more weight (144.5 v. 112.4 kg; P<0.05) over the following year than WO calves because of a superior wet season growth rate, so that WO calves were lightest (P<0.05) at the yearling muster. Mortality rates of all calf groups were low (2.5%). Liveweight at branding and liveweight gain to yearling stage affected whether heifers subsequently joined the breeding herd. More (P<0.05) heifers from WJ joined the herd than from WO and UW groups. Overall, 63.6% of heifers were selected as replacement breeders (no difference between W1 and W2). Bull control was difficult and many heifers (48%) conceived before the planned start of mating. Cumulative conception rate was 91.3% by 30 months post-branding. In the first year, 60% of heifers mated were confirmed pregnant, but reproductive losses of 25.6% from pregnancy diagnosis to branding contributed to a branding rate of 44.9%. The conception rate of heifers when lactating was 18.6%. Mortality during the first year in the herd was 11.7%. In general, WJ heifers had lower mortalities, higher conception, calving and weaning rates, and higher conception rates when lactating than WO or UW heifers. Animals weaned in October were identified as the most difficult group to manage because of lower liveweight as 2 year olds compared with WJ and UW calves. This affected the numbers of heifers suitable for joining. Cost-effective management systems are needed to improve growth rates or delay onset of oestrus in these animals.

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.

Relocation does not have a significant effect on the growth rate of Bos indicus cross steers

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 608 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Holroyd ◽  
V. J. Doogan ◽  
M. R. Jeffery ◽  
J. A. Lindsay ◽  
B. K. Venus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
The Other ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Normal Ranges ◽  
Native Pastures

This experiment tested the hypothesis that relocating cattle is detrimental to their growth. The study examined the effect of having relocated cattle mixed with, or segregated from, the local acclimatised cattle at the destination property. Bos indicus cross steers (120) were allocated to three groups and were relocated, in two separate cohorts, 980 km from northern Queensland to improved pastures in central Queensland. At the start of Phase 1, the control group (C) was moved 3 months before the other two groups. The remaining two groups grazed native pastures; one group was supplemented (SR) to increase growth rate similar to that expected from improved pasture in central Queensland and the other was not supplemented (R). At the end of Phase 1, C was significantly (P < 0.05) heavier than SR, which was significantly (P < 0.05) heavier than R. At the start of Phase 2, the SR and R groups were relocated and after transportation the R and SR groups lost 12 kg or 4.4% of liveweight and 18 kg or 5.7% of liveweight, respectively; this weight loss was recovered after 5 days. All steers were reallocated to segregated (SEG) or mixed (MIX) treatment groups forming six treatments (SEG.C, SEG.R and SEG.SR and MIX.C, MIX.R and MIX.SR). There were no significant differences in liveweights within the SEG treatments by 57 days or within the MIX treatments by 106 days after relocation. There were few if any significant differences in the plasma constituents and differential leucocyte counts of the steers and most results were within physiologically normal ranges. We conclude on the basis of these results and of other experiments that the anecdotal poor performance of cattle after relocation appears to be unfounded.

Relationship Between Climate and Provenance Variation in Eucalyptus Camaldulensis Dehnh.

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 453 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Gibson ◽  
EP Bachelard ◽  
KT Hubick
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Eucalyptus Camaldulensis ◽  
Humid Tropics ◽  
The Other ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Axillary Shoots ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Temperature Ranges ◽  
Eucalyptus Camaldulensis Dehnh ◽  
Semi Arid

The morphology and physiology of Eucalyptus camaldulensis seedlings grown from seed collected from two locations in the dry tropics, two in the humid tropics and two in semi-arid Northern Australia were compared in phytotron growth cabinets under well-watered and water-limited conditions and diurnal temperature ranges of 30-25 and 22-15�C. Seedlings from the two locations in each climate resembled each other more closely than they resembled seedlings from the other climates across the range of conditions tested. When water-limited, seedlings from the dry tropical and semi-arid climates had a higher allocation of dry matter to roots than seedlings from the humid tropics. However, those from the dry tropics shed their lower leaves and initiated small-leaved axillary shoots while those from the semi-arid climate retained their leaves and did not produce axillary shoots. In contrast, seedlings from the humid tropics responded by reduced gas (CO2 and H2O) exchange without changes in morphology or allocation of dry matter. These responses are appropriate for growth in each climate and are consistent with observations made on wild trees in the field, on trees in plantations overseas and also with data from seedlings grown in earlier glasshouse experiments.

Genetic parameters for tropical beef cattle in northern Australia: a review

1993 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
GP Davis
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Environmental Stresses ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Weighted Mean ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Reproduction Traits

This paper reviews published estimates of genetic parameters for traits of growth, reproduction and resistance to environmental stresses for Bos indicus and Zebu derived breeds in northern Australia. Most published estimates of heritabilities for growth and reproduction traits were higher for tropically adapted breeds in northern Australia than for Bos taurus breeds in temperate Australia. Weighted mean estimates of heritabilities for the direct component of weaning weight were 39% for the Brahman breed and 30% for Zebu-derived breeds in northern Australia compared with 13% for Bos taurus breeds in temperate areas of Australia. Mean estimates for the maternal component of weaning weight were 5, 24 and 13% respectively. Mean heritabilities for yearling and 550 day weights for Zebu derived breeds in northern Australia (24 and 25%) were similar to those for Bos taurus breeds in temperate areas, though estimates for Brahmans were higher (39 and 39%). Published estimates of heritabilities of later weights (700 and 900 days), which are most relevant to northern Australian production systems, were rare but averaged between 32 and 45% for Zebu-derived breeds and Brahmans. Weighted mean heritability for female calving success was 14% and for realised bull fertility was 5%. Published estimates of heritabilities of scrota1 circumference averaged 31%, and testosterone response to GNRH stimulation was 52%. Heritabilities of resistance to various environmental stresses were all moderate with weighted means between 20 and 34%. Genetic correlations between growth, reproduction and resistance to environmental stresses are also reviewed. There appears to be predictable variation in estimates of parameters between breeds in different environments which is related to level of resistance to environmental stresses, and this is likely to affect the prediction of breeding values for cattle in northern Australia.

Comparative digestive ability and microbial population of Sistani (bos indicus) and Holstein (bos taurus) cattle fed different roughage diets

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 ◽  
pp. 116-116
Author(s):  
H. Mansouri ◽  
A. Nikkhah ◽  
M. Rezaeian ◽  
M. Moradi ◽  
S. A. Mirhadi
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Population ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
The Other ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Microbial Protein ◽  
N Limitation ◽  
Animal Survival ◽  
End Products ◽  
Limiting Nutrient

There is conflict regarding the relative abilities of Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle to digest the feedstuffs. Part of this conflict may have arisen because a wide variety of diets have been fed at different range of intakes and only digestibility in whole tract measured. Generally no attempts have been made to partition rumen and post-rumen digestion or to assess the relative importance of rumen digestion and clearance between diets and between genotypes. Nitrogen (N) is frequently a major limiting nutrient for ruminants specially when they are given diets of mature herbage. On the other hand the extent to which cattle are able to recycle urea-N from blood to rumen for utilization in production of microbial protein could have an important influence on animal survival under condition of severe N limitation. The present experiment was designed to compare rumen microbial population and the end products of rumen fermentation between Sistani (Bos indicus) and Holstein (Bos taurus) breeds.

scholarly journals Can the Meat from Angus Crossbreds with Bos indicus Dams Compete with that from Bos taurus Dams in Organoleptic Properties and Fatty Acid Profile?

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 433-442
Author(s):  
Niraporn CHAIWANG ◽  
Thanaporn BUNMEE ◽  
Kittipong SAMOOTKWAM ◽  
Bulgul TIPNATE ◽  
Amphon WARITTHITHAM ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Shear Force ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Cholesterol Content ◽  
The Other ◽  
Practical Relevance ◽  
Organoleptic Properties ◽  
Total N ◽  
Holstein Friesian

It was experimentally determined whether crossbreeding with Bos indicus dams compared to Bos taurus dams may provide meat which is competitive in organoleptic properties and fatty acid (FA) profile and if tenderness, assumed to be lower, is really adversely affected. Eight Black Angus × White Lamphun (A×W) bulls were compared with 8 Black Angus × Holstein Friesian (A×H). M. longissimus thoracis, M. semimembranosus and M. infraspinatus were analyzed for organoleptic properties and objective explanatory properties related to tenderness, as well as FA profile.Tenderness was judged lower in the M. infraspinatus of A×W than A×H, but not in the other muscles. Shear force and collagen solubility tended (P < 0.10) to be lower in all 3 muscles of A×W compared to those of A×H. The fat content of the M. longissimus thoracis from A×W was lower than that from A×H. The lipids in the M. longissimus thoracis from A×W were richer in polyunsaturated FA and total n-3 FA, and poorer in C18:0 and saturated FA than those of A×H. Furthermore, the lipids of the M. semimembranosus from A×W had higher proportions of C14:1 and C16:1 than that of A×H. The FA in the M. infraspinatus from A×W had higher proportions of C18:3 n-3, mono-unsaturated FA and total n-3 FA and the proportion of saturated FA was lower than in A×H. The M. infraspinatus from A×W was lower in cholesterol content than that from A×H. There were some differences in tenderness (inferior in White Lamphun crossbreds) and FA profile (superior in White Lamphun crossbreds), but differences were numerically small and, thus, may be of low practical relevance. Therefore, crossbreeding with indigenous Bos indicus cattle does not seem to be restricted by low meat quality.

Feed intake and liveweight responses to nitrogen and/or protein supplements by steers of Bos taurus, Bos indicus and Bos taurus × Bos indicus breed types offered a low quality grass hay

2000 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. HENNESSY ◽  
P. J. WILLIAMSON ◽  
R. E. DARNELL
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Soluble Nitrogen ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Linear Effects ◽  
Native Pastures

Thirty steers were used in two pen experiments (Expts 1 and 2), and 27 of these in a third (Expt 3), to quantify their responses of hay intake, rumen ammonia nitrogen (RAN) concentrations, and liveweight to inputs of rumen soluble nitrogen (urea) and rumen undegradable protein (formaldehyde-treated casein; F-casein) when added to a basal diet of low quality hays. The hays were made from unimproved native pastures typical of those grazed by cattle in the subtropics of Australia and contained 7·8 g N/kg dry matter (DM) with coefficient of organic matter digestibility of 0·503 in Expts 1 and 2, and 5·2 g N/kg DM with a digestibility range from 0·385 to 0·448 in Expt 3. The steers (15 months old) were either Brahman (B), Hereford (H) or the F1 Brahman×Hereford (BH) cross. Steers were offered supplementary minerals with the hays in each experiment. In Expt 1 (35 days) urea was sprayed on part of the hay, allowing for daily urea intakes (g/steer) of either 0, 5, 11, 16 or 26. In Expt 2 (42 days), F-casein was offered daily (g/steer) at either 0, 75, 150, 225 or 300 and in Expt 3 (56 days) discrete offerings were made of soluble casein (225 g/day), of urea (18 g/day)+F-casein (225 g/day) or of nil.There were significant linear effects of urea intake upon hay intake and liveweight change of steers. However, B steers had smaller increases in intake and liveweight change than did H steers, and B steers did not have a linear increase in RAN concentrations with increasing urea intake as did H and BH steers. In Expt 2 there were significant linear effects of F-casein supplements on hay intake and liveweight change of steers and a significant improvement in their feed conversion ratio (i.e. DM intake: liveweight change). The B steers did not differ from H and BH steers in liveweight change but had significantly lower hay intakes and non-significantly smaller increases in RAN with increasing F-casein intake. In Expt 3, hay intake of the steers increased with soluble casein (by 16·8%) and with urea+F-casein (24·5%). Only steers given urea+F-casein had a high RAN concentration (94 mg/l) and a high liveweight gain. The B steers had a liveweight loss and a lower hay intake than H or BH steers in Expt 3 but a higher RAN concentration.These studies have indicated the importance of the form and quantity of additional N required by cattle of differing breed types to optimize their feed intake and liveweight gain when offered low-N, low-digestible hays.

Bos indicus and Bos taurus crossbred dairy cattle in Australia. II. Effect of calf removal and prolactin treatment

1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
RH Hayman
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Prolactin Secretion ◽  
The Other ◽  
Field Station ◽  
Filial Generation ◽  
Maternal Instinct ◽  
Calf Removal

Some 70 % of filial generation Red Sindhi x Jersey and Sahiwal x Jersey crossbred animals were discarded from the dairy herd on the F. D. McMaster Field Station, CSIRO, because of failure to continue in lactation when separated from their calves. This well-known characteristic of Bos indicus cattle, generally referred to as 'maternal instinct,' has been assumed to emanate from the dam's sense of loss on separation from her offspring. Observations on animals in the Field Station herd suggested that this separation causes the dam to cease producing secretory hormones with consequent cessation of lactation. Two systems of management, in one of which the calf was separated from its dam within 24 hr of birth while in the other the dam and offspring were allowed to run together for 10 days, both failed to overcome the problem. Injections of oxytocin after separation were also unsuccessful. Some success was obtained by daily injections of 250 i.u. of prolactin for the 10 days immediately following the separation of dam and offspring, and it was concluded that the presence of the calf stimulated prolactin secretion by the pituitary. Continuation of injections over a period of 7-10 days enabled some animals to continue their lactation without the stimulation afforded by the calf.

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