Productivity of Boran cattle and their Friesian crosses at Abernossa Ranch, rift valley of Ethiopia. II. Growth performance

Abstract

Birth (4,197) and weaning (2,441) weight data on Boran, F1 Boran Friesian and three quarter Friesian calves as well as adjusted one-year (390), 2-year (177) and 3-year (364) weights on Boran cattle were analysed to estimate the influence of genetic and environmental factors. Boran, F1 and three quarter calves weighted 25.2, 25.4 and 25.7 kg at birth and 157.5, 176.7 and 179.9 kg at weaning, respectively. All factors included in the analysis and their interaction had significant effects on both traits with the exception of the effect of season of birth and its interaction with breed group on birth weight. Weight of Boran cattle at one-, 2- and 3-years of age were 179, 269 and 338 kg, respectively. Heritability values calculated on the basis of paternal half-sibs were 0.32, 0.24, 0.48, 0.29 and 0.24 for birth, weaning, one-year, 2-year and 3-year weights, respectively. The study indicated that F1 crosses were 12.2% heavier at weaning than Boran calves. Of the environmental factors considered, year of birth was found to be the major source of variation mainly due to variation in the amount of rainfall between years.

Genetic evaluation of Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Holstein Friesian for growth performance in central Ethiopia

“…The differences for SMWT, YWT, EWT, TWT, ADG1 and ADG2 were all non‐significant among the crosses. The lack of significant difference in growth performance among crosses is contrary to the results of Banjaw & Haile‐Mariam (1994) and Demeke et al. (2003) who reported heavier weights for higher exotic gene levels.…”

“…In Ethiopia, there are limited reports on growth performance of B. taurus x B. indicus crosses and on estimates of genetic parameters for growth traits (e.g. Kebede & Galal 1982; Banjaw & Haile‐Mariam 1994; Demeke et al. 2003).…”

Early growth performance of Bos taurus × Bos indicus cattle crosses in Ethiopia: estimation of individual crossbreeding effects

“…The weaning and yearling weights that were observed or predicted from this study are generally low compared with B. indicus × B. taurus crossbred animals raised through suckling in beef production systems in the tropics (e.g. Banjaw and Hail‐Mariam 1994; Frisch and O'neill 1998), but these weights are also not uncommon for crossbred dairy animals reared artificially under low input systems in the tropics (e.g. Kebede and Galal 1982; Thorpe et al.…”

“… Kebede and Galal 1982; Thorpe et al. 1993; Banjaw and Haile‐Mariam 1994; Rege et al. 1994; Kahi et al.…”

Genetics and environmental trends in growth performance of Horro (Zebu) and crosses of Holstein Friesian and Jersey cattle breeds

“…Direct heritability of weaning weight was lower than birth weight (Table 1). Banjaw and Haile-Mariam, (1994), Demeke et al (2003) and Aynalem (2006) (Mrode, 2000). reported higher heritability estimates for weaning weight and one year weight when multivariate models were used.…”