PREWEANING PERFORMANCE OF CALVES FROM FIRST-CROSS AND RECIPROCAL BACKCROSS COWS

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. McKAY ◽  
G. W. RAHNEFELD ◽  
G. M. WEISS ◽  
H. T. FREDEEN ◽  
J. A. NEWMAN ◽  
...  

Preweaning performance was evaluated for calves out of first-cross and reciprocal back-cross cows maintained under two contrasting environments. All cows were bred to Limousin bulls and the calves were born between 1982 and 1986, inclusive, at Brandon, Manitoba (semi-intensive management) and Manyberries, Alberta (extensive range management). Dam cross comparisons revealed that calves out of Hereford × Angus dams were inferior to calves out of European continental × British dams for all preweaning traits at both locations. Comparisons between calves out of F1 dams and calves out of backcross (1/4 or 3/4 European continental) dams generally favored the calves out of F1 females. Specific and nonspecific comparisons between the reciprocal backcrosses demonstrated that calves out of dams with 3/4 European continental breeding were heavier and grew faster than calves out of dams with 1/4 European continental breeding. Male calves exceeded female calves for all preweaning traits and calves born at Manyberries were heavier and grew faster than calves born at Brandon. Key words: Beef cattle, preweaning growth, crossbreeding, backcrosses

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 389-400
Author(s):  
R. M. McKAY ◽  
G. W. RAHNEFELD ◽  
G. M. WEISS ◽  
H. T. FREDEEN ◽  
J. A. NEWMAN ◽  
...  

Live body measurements were evaluated in F1 and backcross females ranging in age from 1 to 5 yr, inclusive, maintained at Manyberries, Alberta (extensive range management) and Brandon, Manitoba (semi-intensive management). The objectives of this study were to examine measures of size, weight, and subcutaneous fat cover to determine: (1) their relationship with age of cow; (2) the impact of varying proportions of Simmental and Charolais breeding; (3) the similarity between generalized and specific contrasts involving 1/4 and 3/4 European continental and British breeding; and (4) differences between four consecutive lactations and three out of four possible lactations. Body length, height at the hips and withers, and cow weight at weaning reached or approached their mature levels by 5 yr of age and subcutaneous fat cover was more dependent upon environmental factors than age. Incremental increases in Simmental and Charolais breeding in the cow crosses resulted in corresponding increases in body size and weight. The generalized comparisons between 1/4 and 3/4 Simmental, Charolais, Angus, Hereford, and Shorthorn breeding provided useful information regarding generic comparisons but there was a need for evaluating specific backcross comparisons. Cows experiencing four consecutive lactations, compared to those that had three lactations out of a possible four, had decreased physical dimensions in addition to weight and subcutaneous fat cover. Key words: Beef cattle, body measurements, backcrosses, heifers, cows


1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54
Author(s):  
R. M. McKAY ◽  
G. W. RAHNEFELD ◽  
G. M. WEISS ◽  
H. T. FREDEEN ◽  
J. A. NEWMAN ◽  
...  

Calving ease and calf mortality were evaluated for calves out of first-cross and backcross cows maintained under two contrasting environments. All calves were sired by Limousin bulls. The dam crosses at Brandon were HA, SN, CN, ACA, CCA, ASA, SSA, HCH, CCH, HSH, SSH, NCN, CCN, SSN, and NSN with H = Hereford, A = Angus, N = Shorthorn, C = Charolais, S = Simmental and a SSA cross was 3/4 Simmental-1/4 Angus. At Manyberries the dam crosses were HA, SN, ASA, SSA, HSH, SSH, NSN, and SSN. The calves were born between 1982 and 1986, inclusive, at Brandon, Manitoba (semi-intensive management) and Manyberries, Alberta (extensive range management). At Brandon, when calf birth weight was not a covariate, the significant dam cross contrasts for calving ease included less difficulty for SN cows than either the SSN or NSN cows, and for 3/4 A-1/4 European continental (E) cows than 1/4A–3/4E cows. When adjusted to a common calf birth weight the significant contrasts were HA cows had more difficulty than SN cows and the combination of SN and CN cows, SN cows had less difficulty than NSN cows, and 3/4A–1/4E cows had less difficulty than 1/4A–3/4E cows. At Manyberries, regardless of whether calf birth weight was excluded or included as a covariate, the SN cows had less difficulty than the SSN and the SSN cows had less difficulty than NSN cows. No significant dam cross comparisons were observed for calf mortality scores. Adjusting the calving ease scores to a constant calf birth weight did not significantly alter the magnitude of the contrasts but it did shift their probability levels. Location and sex of calf effects were not significant except for calving ease at Brandon where more difficulty was associated with male calves than female calves. Key words: Beef cattle, crossbreeding, backcrosses, calving, mortality


1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 805-821
Author(s):  
D. R. C. Bailey ◽  
T. Entz ◽  
G. W. Rahnefeld ◽  
R. M. McKay ◽  
H. T. Fredeen ◽  
...  

Growth patterns of first-cross (F1) and reciprocal backcross cows, 3–5 yr old, were evaluated under two contrasting environments: extensive range conditions at Manyberries, Alberta, and semi-intensive management at Brandon, Manitoba. Cows resulting from crossing Hereford (H) × Angus (A), Simmental (S) × Shorthorn (N), Charolais (C) × Shorthorn and reciprocal backcrosses from Charolais × Hereford (CH), Charolais × Angus (CA), Charolais × Shorthorn (CN), Simmental × Hereford (SH), Simmental × Angus (SA), and Simmental × Shorthorn (SN) were evaluated at Brandon. At Manyberries, HA, SN and reciprocal backcrosses of SH, SA and SN were evaluated. All cows were bred to Limousin (L) bulls. Cow weights and backfat estimates were recorded at breeding, calving and weaning. The HA cows were the lightest group for all weigh periods at both locations. At all weigh periods, the SSN (3/4 S 1/4 N) dam crosses at Manyberries and the CCN (3/4 C 1/4 N) and CCH (3/4 C 1/4 H) at Brandon were the heaviest. At Brandon, females gained weight during gestation and usually lost weight during summer nursing. Cows at Manyberries usually gained weight during nursing, with significant gestation weight loss. Nursing status of the cow had a significant effect on weight change, with barren status providing an opportunity for large compensatory gains. The CN dams were significantly heavier at all weigh periods than their 1/4 C back-crosses. At Brandon, the SN dam cross weights exceeded those of their reciprocal backcrosses at breeding, calving and weaning and at calving for the 1/4 S dams. At Manyberries, SN weights exceeded those of the 3/4 S crosses at weaning. Over the duration of study, average backfat estimates for cows at Brandon exceeded those at Manyberries (10.8 and 8.6 mm, respectively). Specific dam crosses performed differently at the two locations, and commercial cattlemen need to closely evaluate the F1 and backcross comparisons to determine the optimal level of performance under their particular management and environmental conditions. Key words: Beef cattle, growth, nursing status, crossbreeding, environment


1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Newman ◽  
A. K.W. Tong ◽  
G. W. Rahnefeld ◽  
J. E. Lawson ◽  
H. T. Fredeen ◽  
...  

Data on post-weaning gains and final test weights are reported for 2010 Limousin-sired steer and heifer calves from cows of 15 different F1 cross and back-cross breed types incorporating Charolais, Simmental, Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn breeding. Calves representing all 15 dam breed types were born and weaned under semi-intensive management at Brandon, Manitoba, then finished there on a self-fed all-concentrate diet. A subset representing eight dam breed crosses was born and weaned under extensive range management at Manyberries, Alberta, then fed at Lacombe, Alberta, on a lower energy diet of silage and concentrate mixed and fed to appetite in bunks. A comparison of common breed types revealed that the Brandon calves were lighter at weaning but gained more rapidly in the post-weaning test than the Manyberries/Lacombe calves. Under the Lacombe feeding regime, there were no significant differences in rate of gain on the feedlot test, but progeny of breed types containing some Simmental breeding generally reached a higher final weight than progeny of Hereford × Angus cows because of differences in weight at the beginning of the test. Under the higher energy feeding regime at Brandon, progeny of breed types containing Charolais or Simmental generally gained faster and attained higher final weights than progeny of Hereford × Angus cows. Progeny of Charolais × British and Simmental × British F1 cross cows generally performed as well as, or better than, the progeny of either backcross. Key words: Beef cattle, post-weaning gain, crossbred dam, back-cross dam, European cross


1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Newman ◽  
A. K. W. Tong ◽  
S. D. M. Jones ◽  
G. W. Rahnefeld ◽  
D. R. C. Bailey ◽  
...  

Breed-of-dam and sex-of-calf effects are reported based on observation of 2007 heifer and steer carcasses. The carcasses were derived from Limousin-sired calves born to dams representing 15 F1 and backcross genotypes reared at two locations over a period of 5 yr. The calves represented Hereford × Angus, Charolais × Shorthorn, Simmental × Shorthorn and all backcross combinations involving Charolais or Simmental with Hereford, Angus or Shorthorn. Carcass traits were analyzed on an unadjusted, a constant hot-carcass weight, and a constant rib-fat depth basis. The slaughter criteria dictated that steers were heavier at slaughter than heifers. They also exhibited higher dressing yield, greater longissimus thoracis area, and lower fat depth. Charolais and Simmental breeding was associated with less rib fat depth, greater longissimus thoracis area, a higher proportion of preferred cuts, less dissectible fat, more bone and more lean in the preferred cuts than British beef breeding. Within the European (Charolais and Simmental) and British beef (Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn) breed groups, breed effects were smaller, but for carcass composition traits they were frequently significant. When compared with Simmental, Charolais breeding tended to be associated with less marbling, less rib fat depth, less dissectible fat and more lean in the preferred cuts. Among the British beef breeds, Hereford was associated with the highest proportion of preferred cuts, Shorthorn with the lowest rib fat depth — but the highest dissectible fat — and Angus with the most marbling, the greatest longissimus thoracis area and the lowest bone content. This research has demonstrated that breed effects for carcass composition traits tend to be additive and that a significant effect may be associated with substitution of as little as one-eighth of the breed composition. Key words: Beef cattle, slaughter traits, carcass traits, breed type, crossbred dam, backcross dam


1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-34
Author(s):  
G. W. RAHNEFELD ◽  
R. M. McKAY ◽  
G. M. WEISS ◽  
H. T. FREDEEN ◽  
J. A. NEWMAN ◽  
...  

Growth patterns and calf performance of 2-yr-old F1 and reciprocal backcross females were compared in two contrasting environments, semi-intensive management (Brandon, Man.) and extensive range management (Manyberries, Alta.). At Brandon, 621 heifers of Hereford × Angus (HA), Simmental × Shorthorn (SN), Charolais × Shorthorn (CN) and reciprocal backcrosses from Charolais × Hereford (CH), Charolais × Angus (CA), Charolais × Shorthorn (CN), Simmental × Hereford (SH), Simmental × Angus (SA), and Simmental × Shorthorn (SN) were evaluated. At Manyberries, 271 heifers of HA, SN, CN and reciprocals of SH, SA and SN were evaluated. They were bred to Limousin bulls. The HA heifers were the lightest at 14, 18, 24, 26 and 30 mo of age at both locations. Location differences for dam crosses in common ranged from 5% at 14 mo to 19% for 30 mo weight (Brandon > Manyberries). At all ages, the 3/4 C 1/4 N and the 3/4 S 1/4 N dam crosses were the heaviest at Brandon and Manyberries, respectively. Differences in weights at all ages between the CN and their reciprocal backcrosses were not significant at Brandon. The SN dams exceeded their reciprocal backcrosses in weight at all ages at Brandon (P < 0.01) but none of the differences were significant at Manyberries. Very few of the differences recorded for gestation length and birth weight at either location were significant. Progeny from HA dams were the lightest at birth and when significant differences existed for gestation length the longest were associated with the 3/4 "exotics." At both locations, progeny from HA dams were lightest and the progeny from the 3/4 "exotics" the heaviest at weaning. Females at Manyberries produced calves that were 3.3% heavier at weaning than those at Brandon. The highest weaning weight ratios were recorded for the 3/4 S 1/4 A, 3/4 S 1/4 N and SN dam crosses at both locations and these dam crosses were intermediate in weight at 30 mo. Total overall conception for breed crosses common to both locations for breeding at 14 and 26 mo was 77.0% vs. 75.8% and 82.1% vs. 79.5% for Brandon and Manyberries, respectively. Few differences were observed between dam crosses for conception rate. At Brandon, CX females required significantly more services per conception at 14 mo of age than SX females which reflected itself in lower conception rates. Compared with the SX females, the CX females had 11.8% lower conception to 1st service and 4% lower total conception. Calves born at Manyberries experienced greater calving difficulty but this was not reflected in higher calf mortality rates. Key words: Beef cattle, growth, preweaning traits, crossbreeding


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 969-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Rahnefeld ◽  
R. M. McKay ◽  
G. M. Weiss ◽  
H. T. Fredeen ◽  
J. A. Newman ◽  
...  

A population of 860 F1 and reciprocal backcross females representing Hereford (H), Angus (A), Shorthorn (N), Charolais (C) and Simmental (S) breeding were evaluated for reproductive efficiency under two contrasting environments (Brandon, Manitoba and Manyberries, Alberta). The F1 included the HA, CN and SN and the reciprocal back-crosses were HCH, CCH, ACA, CCA, HSH, SSH, ASA, SSA, NSN, SSN, NCN and CCN. All females were bred to Limousin bulls. The data collected from 1980 to 1986 comprised 3108 mating opportunities and 2523 pregnancies. For dam crosses common to both locations (HA, SN and specific dam crosses involving S) differences in performance criteria occurred with females at Manyberries recording greater cow losses, higher conception and weaning rates, and more weight of calf weaned than at Brandon. Combining these performance elements gave the females at Manyberries an advantage for weight of calf weaned per mating opportunity (162 ± 3.2 vs. 152 ± 3.0 kg). Barren culls comprised the largest proportion of cow losses at both locations with HA and NSN greatest and ASA lowest at Brandon, and SSH greatest and SN lowest at Manyberries, all significant at P ≤ 0.05. None of the differences for C cross females was significant (P > 0.05). Weaning rates per mating opportunity for dam crosses common to both locations indicated the ASA highest and the SSH lowest at both locations, the difference being 22.9% at Brandon and 13.2% at Manyberries. For the HA, CN and C backcross comparisons, the highest weaning rate per mating opportunity was recorded for the HA (73.3%) and the lowest for the CCA dam cross (62.4%). At both locations, the SN dams produced the most weight of calf weaned per mating opportunity with the lowest values recorded by the HA and NSN dam cross at Brandon and the HSH dam cross at Manyberries with the CN dam cross recording the highest values and the CCA and ACA the lowest. For all performance criteria calves out of F1 dams had an advantage over calves from backcross dams. Key words: Beef cattle, cow productivity, crossbreeding


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Nur Rasminati
Keyword(s):  

<div class="WordSection1"><p><em>The research was conducted to know the number of the productive female beef cattle slaughtering at abattoir in DIY. All of the beef cattle which slaughtered along a month were used in this research. The result showed that the number of productive beef cattle slaughtered  up to 2 years old were 28.98%; 2 – 5 years old were 69.55%; more than 5 years old were 1.44%. The female beef cattle slaughtered were 54.58% and the male beef cattle slaughtered were 32.36%. The non productive beef cattle slaughtered were 13.04% including 5.79% male and 7.24% female. The Peranakan Ongole (PO) breed slaughtered was 60.36% (125 heads), Brahman Cross 16.42% (34 heads), Simmental 15.94% (33 heads), Brangus 2.42% (5 heads), Limousine 4.35% (9 heads) and PFH 0.48% (1 heads). The percentage of productive beef cattle slaughtering were 86.95% with female beef productive were 64.25% and the PO breed at 2 – 5 years old were the most slaughtered. It could be concluded that the productive female beef cattle slaughtering at abattoir in DIY was quite high, which may influence the breed resources of beef cattle.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>Key words : Productive beef cattle, slaughtering, abattoir, Yogyakarta</em></p></div><em><br clear="all" /> </em>


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