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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 #207375
Title: Growth and Pubertal Development of F1 Bulls from Hereford, Angus, Norwegian Red, Swedish Red and White, Friesian, and Wagyu Sires

Author
item Casas, Eduardo
item Lunstra, Donald
item Cundiff, Larry
item Ford, Johny

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2007
Publication Date: 7/8/2007
Citation: Casas, E., Lunstra, D.D., Cundiff, L.V., Ford, J.J. 2007. Growth and pubertal development of F1 bulls from Hereford, Angus, Norwegian Red, Swedish Red and White, Friesian, and Wagyu sires [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 85(Suppl. 1):475. Abstract #W35.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objective of the study was to characterize growth, testicular development and puberty between 9 and 14 mo of age in bulls (n = 120) produced by mating sires from Hereford (H), Angus (A), Norwegian Red (N), Swedish Red and White (S), Friesian (F), and Wagyu (W), to MARC III (¼ Hereford, ¼ Angus, ¼ Red Poll, ¼ Pinzgauer) cows. Traits evaluated were birth weight, weight at 200 d, weaning weight (at 215 d), yearling weight, average daily gain from 8 to 14 mo of age, paired testis volume growth from 8 to 14 mo of age, age at puberty (determined by production of 50 x 106 sperm with 10% motility), age at freezable semen (determined by production of 500 x 106 sperm with 50% motility), paired testis weight, and daily sperm production per testis pair at 15 mo. At birth; animals with H and F inheritance were heavier (43 kg and 41 kg, respectively, P +0.04), when compared to those with N, S, and W inheritance (39 kg, 38 kg, and 38 kg, respectively). Differences in weight were also observed at one year of age (P = 0.004), where the heaviest animals were those with A inheritance (450 kg), while the lightest animals were those with W inheritance (403 kg). Bulls with W inheritance had the lowest (P = 0.0003) average daily gain (1.13 kg/d) when compared to bulls with inheritance from H (1.23 kg/d), A (1.29 kg/d), N (1.27 kg/d), S (1.24 kg/d), and F (1.27 kg/d). No differences (P = 0.14) were observed for paired testis volume growth rate. They ranged from 1.95 in A sired to 1.66 cm3/d in W sired bulls. There was a tendency (P = 0.06) of sire breed for age at puberty. The range was from 268 to 302 d. There were no differences (P > 0.05) for paired testis weight and daily sperm production. Growth of animals with W inheritance is slower than animals with N, S, F, H, or A inheritance. At 15 mo of age testicular development was similar for all breeds despite predicted differences in mature body weight.