Influence of reproduction traits and pre-weaning growth rate on herd efficiency of different beef breed types in an arid sub-tropical environment

Plessis, Izak Du; Hoffman, Louwrens C.; Calitz, F. J.

doi:10.4314/sajas.v36i2.3990

Cited by 11 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Results from the baseline economic analysis of the feedlot phase are presented in Table 4. The general advantage in income minus feed cost of the Nguni dam breed, irrespective of sire breed, is approximately consistent with differences in herd efficiency reported by Du Plessis et al (2006). However, the simulated difference between Afrikaner and Bosmara dam breeds in income minus feed cost was smaller than the corresponding difference in herd efficiency observed by Du Plessis et al (2006).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 85%

Breeding objectives for Angus and Charolais specialized sire lines for use in the emerging sector of South African beef production

MacNeil¹,

Matjuda²

2008

SA J. An. Sci.

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Breeding indigenous cows to terminal sires may facilitate production of calves in the emerging sector that better meet commercial feedlot requirements. Thus, the objective of this research was to develop breeding objectives for Angus and Charolais terminal sires to be used in breeding Afrikaner, Bonsmara, and Nguni cows. An aggregated simulation model that is reliant on user inputs for the phenotypic characterization of the germplasm and economic characterization of the production environment was developed. Relative economic values were calculated by approximating partial derivatives of simulated profit with respect to economically relevant traits. Correlations among the breeding objectives calculated from simulations of Angus and Charolais bulls bred to Afrikaner, Bonsmara and Nguni cows were consistently > 0.9. Thus, an average index could be used for all six scenarios with little loss of selection efficiency. On average, relative emphasis given to breeding values for survival, direct weaning weight, postweaning daily gain, postweaning daily feed intake, dressing percent, and fat depth were 31.1, 31.0, 17.3, 1.4, 19.1, 0.2%, respectively. These breeding objectives may be viewed as an appropriate step in the evolution of multi-trait selection to facilitate poverty alleviation among cattle producers in the emerging sector through wealth creation resulting from their production of calves for industrial feeding.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 85%

Breeding objectives for Angus and Charolais specialized sire lines for use in the emerging sector of South African beef production

MacNeil¹,

Matjuda²

2008

SA J. An. Sci.

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“…In some countries there is a preference for increased frame size in cattle due to the favourable correlation with growth rate (Du Plessis et al 2005), but such animals are not favoured in extensive systems in Africa where grazing quality is frequently poor. Frame size significantly influences reproductive efficiency of beef cows in Africa.…”

Section: Managing Reproduction Within a Resource Limiting Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Perspective on the Impact of Reproductive Technologies on Food Production in Africa

Marle-Köster

Webb

2013

Current and Future Reproductive Technologies and World Food Production

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Africa for the largest part is still regarded as part of the developing world and has a history of political instability, natural disasters, floods and droughts that all had an effect on the development of livestock production systems and the potential application of biotechnologies. It is expected that the human population in sub Saharan Africa will experience a growth of 1.2 % per year over the next 30 years. There is therefore pressure to increase sustainable productivity of livestock. Reproductive technologies such as Artificial Insemination in Africa were driven primarily by the need to control or prevent venereal diseases like Trichomoniases and Campylobacter fetus venerealis in cattle. Reproductive biotechnology had a limited impact in Africa due to several factors including a lack of infrastructure and animal recording systems, clear breeding objectives and continuously changing production systems and markets. Africa has a large variety of genetic resources adapted to the diverse environment and production systems and biotechnology should be applied within this context for an increase in food production.

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“…The reproductive problems highlighted by the farmers have been speculated to be due to the animals bought for them by the program and the genetic diversity of the breed. Infertility and abortions have been reported to be minimal in Nguni cattle (du Plessis et al, 2006;Scholtz and Theunissen, 2010), although cow productivity in the communal rangelands were also reported to be low (Abeygunawardena and Dematewewa, 2004). This low cow productivity was manifested through delayed age at puberty (24 to 36 months) and first calving (36 to 48 months), and long calving intervals (24 to 48 months).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monetary value, current roles, marketing options, and farmer concerns of communal Nguni cattle in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Tada¹,

Muchenje

Dzama³

2012

Afr. J. Bus. Manage.

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The study determined differences between village-owned and group-owned cattle enterprises on monetary value, Nguni cattle functions, marketing options, perceptions and concerns of Nguni cattle farmers. Questionnaires were administered to 22 village-owned and 19 group-owned enterprises. The χ 2-tests were computed to determine associations between enterprise type, farmer characteristics, functions of cattle, marketing options, farmer perceptions and concerns on the cattle. Effects of enterprise ownership and farmer characteristics on the perceived monetary value of Nguni cattle were determined using ANOVA. Nguni cattle in both enterprise ownership patterns were used for cash, meat and upgrading the communal cattle. Farmers from village-owned enterprises had higher perceived prices than group-owned enterprises. Younger farmers with a formal training in agriculture perceived higher prices of bullocks and in-calf heifers. Most farmers (67%) perceived Nguni cattle low-input production as profitable with higher perceived prices for cattle in village-owned than group-owned enterprises. Community gatherings were the most common method of marketing Nguni cattle. The major concerns in village-owned enterprises were uncontrolled mating, lack of grazing land and husbandry equipment. It was concluded that while village-owned and group-owned enterprises had similar demographic profiles, cattle functions, and marketing options.

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Influence of reproduction traits and pre-weaning growth rate on herd efficiency of different beef breed types in an arid sub-tropical environment

Cited by 11 publications

References 8 publications

Breeding objectives for Angus and Charolais specialized sire lines for use in the emerging sector of South African beef production

Breeding objectives for Angus and Charolais specialized sire lines for use in the emerging sector of South African beef production

A Perspective on the Impact of Reproductive Technologies on Food Production in Africa

Monetary value, current roles, marketing options, and farmer concerns of communal Nguni cattle in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

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