Maternal Productivity of Crossbred Angus × Milking Shorthorn Cows. II. Cow Reproduction and Longevity

Self Cite

Mature weight, maturation rate and lifetime maternal performance, through a maximum of seven calving seasons, were analyzed for 182 cows of Angus (A) and Milking Shorthorn (S) breeds and the two reciprocal crossbred groups. Mature weight and rate of maturation were estimated for the three-parameter growth curve described by Brody. Estimates derived for mature weight (kilograms), both unadjusted and adjusted for cow condition, were, respectively: Angus, 421, 407; Shorthorn, 409, 459; A x S, 448, 455 and S x A, 440, 441 (approximate standard error, 8 kg). Estimates for the maturation rate parameter were, respectively: Angus, 5.8, 6.3; Shorthorn, 6.6, 5.4, A x S, 6.2, 6.1 and S x A, 5.9, 6.1%/month (approximate SE, .3%/month). Heterosis for mature weight was 3 to 7% (28 +/- 8 and 15 +/- 6 kg, respectively). No heterosis was observed for the maturation rate parameter. Birth weight (.048 +/- .025 kg/kg) and weaning weight (.142 +/- .044 kg/kg) of the first calves were positively related with mature size of the dam. Weaning weights of first calves increased with increasing rate of maturation of the dams (3.6 +/- 1.5 kg/percentage/month) while birth weights remained unchanged. Under the culling criteria used in this study, the number of calves produced by a cow in her lifetime decreased (-.007 +/- .003 calves/kg) with increasing mature weight, while average weaning weight of the calves increased (.132 +/- .03 kg/kg). Total weight weaned, years in the herd and weight weaned per year tended to decrease (P greater than .05) with increasing mature weight of dam, but not significantly. Positive heterosis was expressed for all lifetime cow productivity characters, with crossbred cows weaning 22% (230 +/- 57 kg) more calf weight in their lifetime.

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 94%

“…1, 1981 until they failed to wean a calf in 2 different years or they completed at least 7 years in the breeding herd. A detailed description of the cow herd breeding and management is presented by Spelbring et al (1977a), who also reported data on the first three calf crops from these cows (Spelbring et al, 1977b).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mature Weight, Maturation Rate, Maternal Performance and Their Interrelationships in Purebred and Crossbred Cows of Angus and Milking Shorthorn Parentage

Stewart

Martín

1981

Self Cite

“…The reproductive traits (proportion of cows calving and proportion of cows weaning a calf) exhibited greater maternal heterosis than did the calf growth traits, but a n even greater amount of maternal heterosis was shown by a characteristic that combined calf growth and cow reproduction (calf weaning weight per cow exposed to breeding). Estimates of maternal heterosis for proportion calved have ranged from 1.1 to 11.3% and averaged 5.5%, whereas estimates for proportion weaned ranged from 0 to 16.9% and averaged 7.7% (Cundiff et al, 1974a,b;Spelbring et al, 1977b;Gaines et al, 1978;Ellis et al, 1979;Koch et al, 1985;Olson et al, 1985;Dearborn et al, 1987;Bailey et al, 1988). Thus, the present estimates of maternal heterosis for proportions calved and weaned were higher than previous averages but are within the ranges reported previously.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of crosses among Hereford, Angus, and Simmental cattle with different levels of Simmental breeding: VI. Maternal heterosis of 3- to 8-year-old dams and the dominance model2

Kress

Doornbos

Anderson

et al. 1992

Data from Hereford, 25% Simmental-75% Hereford, 50% Simmental-50% Hereford, and 75% Simmental-25% Hereford dams were used to estimate maternal heterosis and level of agreement with the dominance model. Cows were located at the Northern Agricultural Research Center near Havre, MT and were managed consistent with practices for western range environments. Sample halves of dam breed groups were bred to Charolais and Tarentaise sires to produce calves at 3 to 8 yr of age. There were 766 exposures to breeding that resulted in 581 calves. Breed group means for most traits supported the dominance model. Maternal heterosis was estimated by regression techniques for 22 cow and calf traits. Maternal heterosis was not significant for day of conception, number of services, gestation length, or calving difficulty. Estimates of maternal heterosis for calf growth traits ranged from .7% for weaning height to 5.2% for weaning weight and 7.5% for weaning condition score. Calf weight per unit of cow weight at weaning showed significant maternal heterosis (7.1%). Higher levels of maternal heterosis were exhibited for milk production (8.2 to 11.1%) and the negative, but nonsignificant, estimate of maternal heterosis for early minus late milk production suggested more persistent lactation for crossbred cows. Maternal heterosis was 11.5% for proportion of dams that calved and 10.4% for proportion of dams that weaned calves. Calf weaning weight per cow exposed to breeding, a characteristic combining calf growth and dam reproduction, exhibited 17.9% maternal heterosis.

“…Heterotic effects could therefore explain why the synthetic breed groups lived longer than the purebred Herefords. Published results indicate that traditional dairy breeds have shorter lifespans than do beef breeds when they are managed as beef cattle (Spelbring et al, 1977;Rohrer et al, 1988a); however, the Dairy Synthetic cows had a mean disposal age similar to that of Beef Synthetic #l. This could be because the Dairy Synthetics have only 64% dairy breeding, and hence have lower milk production potential than do traditional dairy breeds. It is therefore expected that the Dairy Synthetics will be less affected by the problems associated with high milk production in dairy cows, such as mastitis.…”

Section: Longevitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the mean disposal ages of Beef Synthetic #1 and Dairy Synthetic cows were similar, these means were greater ( P < .Ol) than that of purebred Hereford cows. Several reports have indicated that heterotic effects increase longevity in cows (Dickinson and Touchberry, 1961;Spelbring et al, 1977;Rohrer et al, 1988b;Nuiiez-Dominguez et al, 1991). Heterotic effects could therefore explain why the synthetic breed groups lived longer than the purebred Herefords.…”

Section: Longevitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Longevity and lifetime productivity of cows in a purebred Hereford and two multibreed synthetic groups under range conditions1

Arthur

Makarechian

Berg

et al. 1993

Records on 983 cows born during a period of 10 yr (1966 to 1975) were used to estimate longevity and lifetime productivity of cows raised under range conditions. The cows were from a purebred Hereford and two multibreed synthetic groups, one composed of beef breeds (Beef Synthetic #1) and the other composed of two-thirds dairy breeds and one-third beef breeds (Dairy Synthetic). The cows were raised under a stringent culling system in which all heifers were exposed to bulls as yearlings and were expected to wean a calf each year thereafter or they were culled. Cows were also culled for other reasons, such as severe calving problems, bad udders, and leg and feet problems. The mean longevity was 4.2 yr; cows from the synthetic breed groups produced longer (P < .01) than Hereford cows, due to a relatively faster rate of removal at all ages in the purebred Hereford group. The mean values per cow for lifetime productivity traits were 2.7 and 2.5 for number of calves born and weaned and 101.9 kg and 482.9 kg for weight of calf born and weaned, respectively. Male calves were not castrated, and weights of female calves were adjusted to a male basis. Over their lifetimes, Dairy Synthetic cows were more productive, in terms of number and weight of calves born and weaned, than Beef Synthetic #1 cows, which in turn were more productive than purebred Hereford cows (P < .01).