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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Genetics and Animal Breeding » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #148478
Title: REPRODUCTION AND MATERNAL PERFORMANCE OF ANGUS, HEREFORD, NORWEGIAN RED, SWEDISH RED AND WHITE, FRIESIAN, AND WAGYU SIRED F1 FEMALES

Author
item Cundiff, Larry
item Thallman, Richard - Mark

Submitted to: World Congress of Genetics Applied in Livestock Production
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/13/2002
Publication Date: 8/1/2002
Citation: Cundiff, L.V., Thallman, R.M. Reproduction and maternal performance of Angus, Hereford, Norwegian Red, Swedish Red and White, Friesian, and Wagyu sired F1 females. Montpellier, France. 2002. CD-ROM Communication no. 02-29.

Interpretive Summary: Reproduction rate and maternal performance are important components of efficiency of beef production. This reprot presents results for postweaning growth, puberty traits, reproduction rates, and maternal performance at young ages (2, 3 and 4 years of age) of F1 cross females produced from matings to a diverse sample of sire breeds, including the two most prominent breeds in U.S. beef production (Hereford and Angus), three breeds used in European milk and meat production systems (non Holstein influenced Norwegian Red, Swedish Red and White, and Friesian), and the Wagyu breed reputed to have unusual propensity to deposit marbling in Japanese beef production systems. Heifers by sire breeds that have had history of selection for milk production under dual purpose dairy-beef production systems (Norwegian Red, Swedish Red and White, and Friesian) expressed puberty at significantly younger ages than those by sire breeds that have not been selected directly for milk production. However, differences among sire breeds of F1 females were not significant for pregnancy rates at 18 months or for calf crop percentages born and weaned at two years of age. Differences among sire breeds were not significant for calving difficulty at 2 years of age or at 3 or 4 years of age. Weaning weights were heaviest for progeny of F1 cross females with Norwegian Red and Swedish Red and White sires, followed in order by progeny of F1 cross females with Friesian, Angus, Hereford, and Wagyu sires.

Technical Abstract: Data were analyzed for reproduction and maternal performance of F1 females by Hereford (32 sires), Angus (30), Norwegian Red (14 non-Holstein influenced), Swedish Red and White (16 non-Holstein), Friesian (24 non-Holstein), and Wagyu (19) sires and Hereford, Angus, and composite MARC III dams. Effects of sire breed were significant (P<.05) for weights of the females at 400 and 550 days, for height at 18 months, for percentage expressing a pubertal estrus, and age at puberty. The females were mated to MARC III sires to produce their first calves at 2 years of age and to Charolais sires to produce calves at 3 or 4 years of age. Sire breed of the F1 females was significant for progeny weights at birth and weaning, but not for calving rates, weaning rates, dystocia scores, or unassisted births in either age grouping.