Hereford and Simmental Cattle Breeds in Siberia: Implementation of the Adaptive and Productive Potential in the Cold Climate

Abstract

 Abstract:This study was aimed at studying the biological characteristics of the calves of the Hereford and Simmental breeds, and crosses of these breeds in Siberia. The article discusses the peculiarities of metabolism and utilization of nutrients, growth rate, meat productivity and quality, feed conversion in groups of calves up to 15.5 months of age due to the breed identity in the keeping conditions in light facilities and cold climate. Similarity has been noted in the parameters of gas-and-energy metabolism in Hereford and crossbred calves, including their seasonal dynamics. During the experimental period, a seasonal downward trend was noted in the heart rate of Hereford calves by 11.4 %, and respiration rateby 33.8 %. In the Simmental peers, these figures decreased by 12 and 37.2 %, respectively, in hybridsby 6.1 and 29 %. The seasonal decrease in the body temperature in Hereford and crossbred animals by 2.4 -2.5 %, in Simmentalsby 1.3 %, and increased heat production by Hereford animals and their crossesby 20.9 and 20.1 % (P<0.01), compared to the Simmental peers, were noted. In terms of the content of hemoglobin, Hereford calves (116.5 ± 3.6 g/l) and Hereford × Simmental hybrids (114.0 ± 5.1 g/l) tended to be superior to Simmental calves (103.5 ± 5.4 g/l). No significant difference in the erythrocytes count in the blood of calves was found between the groups. In all ages, Simmental calves were inferior to their Hereford and crossbred peers in terms of the content of total protein and albumin in the blood serum. By the content of globulins in the blood serum, no differences were found between the groups. The coefficients of nutrients digestibility due to balanced feeding was relatively high in all groups. Hereford × Simmental hybrids were superior to their Simmental counterparts by the organic matter digestibility by 3.0 % (P<0.01) . The most significant difference in the live weight was observed between Simmental and crossbred calves (P<0.01). The average daily gain of the hybrids over the entire study period was greater by 25.6 and 15.2 % than that of purebred Simmental and Hereford calves. Accordingly, Hereford × Simmental calves had an advantage over Herefords in terms of the slaughtering weight by 5.4 %, and over Simmentalsby 22.1 %. The energy value of the meat of purebred Herefords and crossbred calves was higher by 8.4 % than in purebred Simmentals. The conclusion has been made about the prospects of using Herefords and their crosses with Simmentals for the sustainable development of beef cattle breeding in the conditions of Siberia. Keywords: beef cattle, Hereford breed, Simmental breed, crossbred animals, energy metabolism, meat yield, feed conversion. G.I. Ragimov, K.V. Zhuchaev, M.L. Kochneva, V.V. Gart, B.O. Inerbaev, G.M. Goncharenko, V.S. Deeva Hereford and Simmental Cattle Breeds in Siberia: Implementation of the Adaptive and Productive Potential in the Cold Climate 9632

DNA analysis of the Russian populations of Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Belgian Blue cattle

“…The identification of genes controlling production traits in farm animal species will lead to cost-effective genetic testing of entire populations for the enhanced selection of individuals, thus providing increased product quality and production efficiency. Sellick et al (2007) stated that "A previously reported transversion in MSTN (AF320998.1, g.433C>A), resulting in the amino acid substitution of phenylalanine by leucine at position 94 of the protein sequence (F94L), was the only polymorphism consistently related to increased muscling. Overall the size of the g.433C>A additive effect on carcass traits was moderately large, with the g.433A allele found to be associated with a 5.5 % increase in silverside percentage and eye muscle area (EMA) and a 2.3 % increase in total meat percentage relative to the g.433C allele.…”

“…The phenotypic effects of the g.433A allele were partially recessive". Probably the MSTN genotype can produce an intermediate, non-double-muscling phenotype, which should be of significant value for beef cattle producers (Sellick et al, 2007).…”

“…Excellent productive features such as high meat yield and good organoleptic traits due to increased tenderness and marbling were registered among the animals of the Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Belgian Blue breeds (Ragimov et al, 2019). Also, the animals of these breeds have good acclimatization abilities and high genetic potential (Ragimov et al, 2019;Urioste et al, 2007). However, besides the advantages, Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Belgian Blue cattle have a serious drawback, i.e., the appearance of some genetic defects (Gholap et al, 2014).…”

“…The use of breeding material of specialized meat cattle breeds is very promising for improving beef cattle breeding profitability (Dusaeva and Kuvanov, 2013). Excellent productive features such as high meat yield and good organoleptic traits due to increased tenderness and marbling were registered among the animals of the Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Belgian Blue breeds (Ragimov et al, 2019). Also, the animals of these breeds have good acclimatization abilities and high genetic potential (Ragimov et al, 2019;Urioste et al, 2007).…”

“…One of them, the F94L polymorphism of the myostatin gene (MSTN), is the SNP in 2:g.6213980A>C position. Supposedly the generation due to the mutation of the A allele is linked to increased protein and decreased intramuscular and external fat content, which make the F94L polymorphism the analogue of the nt821del MSTN mutation caused by M1; however, in contrast to the former, the F94L polymorphism does not influence birth weight, and due to the absence of the dystocia risk, this polymorphism could be used for the purpose of obtaining leaner meat (Sellick et al, 2007).…”