The performance of Brahman-Shorthorn and Sahiwal-Shorthorn beef cattle in the dry tropics of northern Queensland. 3. Birth weights and growth to weaning

1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Fordyce ◽  
TA James ◽  
RG Holroyd ◽  
NJ Beaman ◽  
RJ Mayer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Late Generation ◽  
Calving Season

The birth weights and weaning weights of Bos indicus cross calves from 4 inter se mated herd groups in a dry tropical environment were studied. The calving season commenced in late October, about 2 weeks before the start of the pasture-growing season. Second and subsequent generations of 1/2 Brahman and 1/2 Sahiwal crosses and first backcross, and later generations of 3/4 Brahman and 3/4 Sahiwal crosses, were represented. The Bos taurus component of the crosses was primarily Beef Shorthorn. In general, Brahman crosses were heavier at birth and grew faster to weaning than Sahiwal crosses (P<0.05), with consequent advantages in weaning weights of 11 and 6 kg in first backcross and late generation crosses, respectively. There was a birth weight advantage (P<0.05) of 1/2 crosses over 3/4 crosses, which was eroded by the time of weaning. Superior growth rates of 3/4 crosses were primarily expressed in years with greater nutritional stress and appeared to be due to better adaptation to environmental stresses by the calf. The only difference between filial generations was the growth rate advantage (P<0.05) of F2 1/2 crosses over F3 1/2 crosses, apparently due to suckling of F1 and F2 dams, respectively. Males exhibited an 8% average advantage (P<0.05) over females for all weight and growth traits in late generation calves. Calves with mature dams were 1.8 kg heavier (P<0.05) at birth. This, along with their higher (P<0.05) preweaning growth rate (19-49 g/day), resulted in calves with mature dams being 4-10 kg heavier (P<0.05) at weaning than calves of young cows. Differences between years in birth weights and preweaning growth rates were <25% (P<0.05). Birth weight was affected by nutrition of the dam in late pregnancy (early calves were generally about 1 kg lighter than late calves), and growth of calves was higher in years when the pasture growing season commenced earlier.

scholarly journals Phenotypic and genetic parameters for growth traits in Red Chittagong Cattle of Bangladesh

1970 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Rabeya ◽  
AKFH Bhuiyan ◽  
MA Habib ◽  
MS Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Season Of Birth ◽  
Indigenous Cattle ◽  
Estimated Parameters ◽  
Significant Difference

The present study was carried out to estimate phenotypic and genetic parameters of Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) for growth traits. Means of birth weight (BW), three month weight (3MW), six month weight (6MW), weaning weight (WW), nine month weight (9MW) and yearling weight (YW) were 15.74, 31.48, 45.33, 57.00, 60.91 and 76.18 kg respectively. Sex significantly (p<0.001) differed BW of calves but did not differ (p>0.05) 3MW, 6MW, WW, 9MW and YW. BW, 6MW, WW, 9MW and YW did not vary significantly (p>0.05) on year of birth but varied significantly (p<0.01) on 3MW. Season of birth had significant difference on 3MW (p<0.001), 6MW (p<0.01) and WW (p<0.01) but had no significant difference (p>0.05) on BW, 9MW and YW. The growth rates at zero to six month (6MGR) and six to twelve month (12MGR) were 0.17 and 0.17 kg /d respectively. Growth rate in both stages had no significant effect (p>0.05) on sex and year of birth. 6MGR had no significant effect (p>0.05) on season of birth but had significant (p<0.05) effect on 12MGR. From single trait analyses heritability (h2) of BW, 3MW, 6MW, WW, 9MW, YW, 6MGR and 12MGR were 0.497, 0.468, 0.475, 0.467, 0.447, 0.478, 0.499 and 0.65, respectively, whereas from multi-trait analysis heritability (h2) of first four traits were 0.498, 0.456, 0.500 and 0.490, respectively. Genetic correlations of BW with 3MW, 6MW and WW were 0.23, 0.38, and 0.53, respectively, 3MW with 6MW and WW were 0.78 and 0.69, respectively and 6MW with WW was 0.76. Estimated heritability values were rather high in magnitude and indicate that these traits would likely respond to selection. Estimates of phenotypic correlations among the traits studied were very low to moderate with values ranging from -0.40 to 0.81, whereas magnitude of genetic correlation ranged from 0.23 to 0.78. It was concluded that these estimated parameters would help to understand the biology of the traits and in designing breeding programme for other indigenous cattle in general. Keywords: Phenotypic and Genetic parameters; Growth traits; Red Chittagong cattle DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v7i2.4733 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 7(2): 265-271, 2009

The relationships between liveweight, growth from weaning to mating and conception rate of Bos indicus cross heifers in the dry tropics of north Queensland

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
VJ Doogan ◽  
G Fordyce ◽  
RK Shepherd ◽  
TA James ◽  
RG Holroyd
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Cohort Effect ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Conception Rates

Factors influencing the conception rates of 1332 Bos indicus cross maiden heifers in the dry tropics of North Queensland were studied between 1973 and 1986. The heifers, which were 112 and 314 Bos indicus (Brahman or Sahiwal) crosses with Bos taurus, were mated at 24-27 months of age over a 3-month period commencing in mid to late January. The effects of liveweights and growth rates on conception rate were initially assessed in separate models which always included cohort (year of branding group) as an additional factor. Cohort and liveweight at weaning, 18 months of age or the start of mating significantly (P<0.05) affected conception rate in maiden heifers. Response to liveweight was curvilinear, being marked for liveweights up to 125-150 kg at weaning, 200-225 kg at 18 months of age and 225-250 kg at the start of mating, with reduced response for greater liveweights. Liveweights of about 270 kg were indicated as targets at the start of mating in a typical year to achieve an 80% conception rate. Average daily gains during the post-weaning dry season and the dry season prior to mating did not influence conception rates after adjusting for cohort. Further analyses using models incorporating both liveweight and growth rate with and without the cohort effect gave indications that the significant cohort effect on conception rate was partly related to post-weaning dry season growth rate. F2 et seq. maiden heifers with low liveweights at either 18 months of age or mating had appreciably higher conception rates if they had gained weight in the post-weaning dry season, rather than losing weight.

Reassessment of Maximum Growth Rates for C3 and C4 Crops

1978 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Monteith
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Maximum Growth ◽  
Maximum Growth Rate ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Close Inspection ◽  
Similar Difference ◽  
Photosynthetic Efficiencies

SUMMARYFigures for maximum crop growth rates, reviewed by Gifford (1974), suggest that the productivity of C3 and C4 species is almost indistinguishable. However, close inspection of these figures at source and correspondence with several authors revealed a number of errors. When all unreliable figures were discarded, the maximum growth rate for C3 stands fell in the range 34–39 g m−2 d−1 compared with 50–54 g m−2 d−1 for C4 stands. Maximum growth rates averaged over the whole growing season showed a similar difference: 13 g m−2 d−1 for C3 and 22 g m−2 d−1 for C4. These figures correspond to photosynthetic efficiencies of approximately 1·4 and 2·0%.

Gestation length, birth weight and growth rates of pure-bred indigenous goats and their crosses in Kenya

1988 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ruvuna ◽  
T. C. Cartwright ◽  
H. Blackburn ◽  
M. Okeyo ◽  
S. Chema
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
East African ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Cross Breeding ◽  
Indigenous Goats

SummaryData on gestation period of 701 indigenous East African and Galla does and pre- and postweaning growth of 810 pure-bred and cross-bred kids were analysed by least squares statistical analysis. Breeds of kids were East African, Galla, Toggenburg × East African, Toggenburg × Galla, Anglo-Nubian × East African and Anglo-Nubian × Galla. Average gestation length was 149 days and was significantly (P < 0·05) affected by type of birth of the kid, year–month of kidding, and age of dam. Does carrying twins had shorter gestation length than does carrying singles. Sex and breed of kid did not have significant effect on gestation length.Significant (P < 0·05) factors affecting birth weight, weight at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 210 and 270 days of age, and preweaning growth rate were breed and sex of kid, type of birth, year–month and age of dam. Male kids grew faster and were heavier than females. Kids born single were heavier and grew faster than twin-born kids. Kids from dams less than 3 years old weighed less than kids from older dams. Cross-bred kids had higher preweaning growth rates than indigenous pure-bred kids. The Anglo-Nubian × Galla cross was heaviest while the East African ranked lowest. The results point to importance of cross-breeding with temperate breeds to increase growth rates of indigenous goats. Comparison of Toggenburg and Anglo-Nubian sires for cross-breeding showed both buck breeds produced kids with roughly equal growth rates. Evaluation of indigenous Galla and East African dams for cross-breeding showed Galla dams produced heavier kids than East African but preweaning growth rates were not significantly different.

Growth Traits and Composition of Two- and Three-Way-Cross Intact Male Progeny of Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus × Bos Taurus Dams

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen M. Van Ornum ◽  
Curtiss M. Bailey ◽  
Thomas P. Ringkob ◽  
Young O. Koh
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Intact Male ◽  
Male Progeny

The effects of genotype, age, pregnancy, lactation and rumen characteristics on voluntary intake of roughage diets by cattle

1986 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 549 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Hunter ◽  
BD Siebert
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Rate Of Decline ◽  
Brahman Steers

The effects of genotype, age and liveweight, pregnancy and lactation on the voluntary feed intake by cattle of roughage diets of different qualities were studied in a number of experiments. The diets ranged from poor quality (low-nitrogen, high-fibre) spear grass (Heteropogon contortus) hay on which intakes were low ( 1 1 g DM/kg liveweight (LW)) to good quality lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay (26 g DM/kg LW). On the poorest-quality diet, differences in intake between Bos taurus and Bos indicus were not significant. However, on the higher quality diets Herefords (Bos taurus) ate significantly (P < 0.05) more than Brahmans (Bos indicus). In addition, as the quality of the diet improved from speargrass through to lucerne, the breed difference in favour of the Herefords became progressively greater and the variability between animals progressively smaller as a proportion of intake. Another study showed that with increasing age and liveweight of steers, intake per unit body weight declined, the rate of decline being significantly (P < 0.05) greater on good-quality lucerne compared to a poor-quality speargrass diet. There was no significant difference between Aberdeen Angus (Bos taurus) and Brahman steers in the rate of decline of intake of each diet with increasing age and liveweight of the steers. Another experiment which measured intake of pregnant and lactating heifers showed that the amount of feed eaten by pregnant heifers increased with increasing liveweight in late pregnancy, with intake per unit liveweight remaining constant. Lactating cows ate 35% more on a liveweight basis than their nonpregnant, non-lactating counterparts. These results are discussed in relation to mechanisms which control intake of roughage diets in ruminants, especially those associated with energy metabolism.

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.

Effect of time of joining and rate of stocking on the production of Corriedale ewes in southern Victoria. 2. Survival and growth of lambs

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (69) ◽  
pp. 434 ◽  
Author(s):  
PA Kenney ◽  
IF Davis
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Single Birth

A study of the survival and growth of lambs was made over a three year period (1968 to 1970) on a flock of 540 ewes grazing annual pasture at Werribee, Victoria. Ewes were stocked at three rates (5, 7 1/2 and 10 ha-1) and lambed between July 6 and August 20 or between September 10 and October 29 each year. Observations were made on the same ewes each year. Rate of stocking had no effect on the birth weight of lambs but single-birth lambs born in September were lighter than those born in July. More twins were born in September than in July and a smaller proportion of lambs born survived from the September than from the July lambing. Of the lambs born to ewes stocked at 10 ha-1 in 1968 and 1969 a smaller proportion survived than of the lambs born to ewes stocked at 5 ha-1. The growth rate of lambs born in July was constant between birth and weaning at 12 weeks of age but declined as rates of stocking increased. When the lambs born in September were about eight weeks old the pastures matured and growth rates of lambs declined and at weaning liveweights of lambs from plots stocked at different rates were similar. Lambs born in July on plots stocked at 5 and 79 ewes ha-1 were as much as eight kilograms heavier at weaning than the lambs born in September at equivalent rates of stocking. Neither rate nor time of onset of milk production was significantly affected by stocking rate.

Carrying the FecB (Booroola) mutation is associated with lower birth weight and slower post-weaning growth rate for lambs, as well as a lighter mature bodyweight for ewes

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Gootwine ◽  
A. Rozov ◽  
A. Bor ◽  
S. Reicher
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Maternal Effect ◽  
Lower Birth Weight ◽  
Ewe Lambs

The present study was conducted in an Assaf flock in which the FecB (Booroola) mutation was segregated to determine whether the FecB mutation affects birthweight and the pre- and post-weaning growth rate of ewe lambs, as well as the mature bodyweight of ewes. Significant differences (P = 0.01) in birthweight (mean ± s.e.m.) were found between BB ewe lambs (4.03 ± 0.08 kg) and B+ and ++ ewe lambs (4.16 ± 0.04 and 4.32 ± 0.07 kg, respectively), which themselves did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). An FecB-associated maternal effect on the birthweight of ewe lambs was also detected, with the birthweight of lambs born to BB mothers (3.93 ± 0.08 kg) being significantly (P < 0.0001) different from the birthweight of lambs born to B+ and ++ mothers (4.26 ± 0.04 and 4.33 ± 0.07 kg, respectively), which did not differ significantly. The genotypes of the lambs did not affect their preweaning growth rate. However, the post-weaning growth rate of ewe BB lambs (274 ± 5 g day−1) was significantly (P = 0.05) different from the similar (P > 0.05) post-weaning growth rates of B+ and ++ lambs (284 ± 3 and 290 ± 4 g day−1, respectively). The genotype at the FecB locus also affected the mature bodyweight of ewes, with that of BB ewes (67.3 ± 1.4 kg) being significantly (P < 0.001) different from the similar mature bodyweight of B+ and ++ ewes (70.8 ± 1.1 and 70.1 ± 1.7 kg, respectively).

Comparison of genetic and phenotypic parameters in a purebred and a synthetic beef cattle population

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. Liu ◽  
M. Makarechian ◽  
R. T. Berg
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Variance Components ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Cattle Population ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation ◽  
Sib Families ◽  
Phenotypic Variations ◽  
Two Populations

Genetic and phenotypic parameters of growth traits from birth to 1 year of age were compared in a multibreed Beef Synthetic (SY) and a purebred Hereford (HE) population managed together under the same environmental conditions and selected for growth rate from 1961 to 1979. Growth traits studied were birth weight, preweaning and postweaning gains. Records of 2077 calves of 70 HE and 100 SY paternal half-sib families were used for analysis. Except for birth weight, phenotypic variances of growth traits were similar for the synthetic (SY) and purebred (HE) populations, but genetic variances were larger in SY than in HE for all growth traits except postweaning gain in males. The coefficients of variation were comparable for all the traits studied in the two populations, indicating that phenotypic variations in the multibreed population and the purebred population were similar. Key words: Variance components, heritability, beef cattle

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