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Title: EVALUATION OF THE F1 CROSSES OF FIVE BOS INDICUS BREEDS WITH HEREFORD FOR BIRTH, GROWTH, CARCASS, COW PRODUCTIVITY AND LONGEVITY CACTERISTICS

Author
item SANDERS, J. - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Riley, David
item PASCHAL, J. - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item LUNT, D. - TEXAS AGRI. EXPERI. STA

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2005
Publication Date: 2/8/2005
Citation: Sanders, J.O., Riley, D.G., Paschal, J., Lunt, D.K. 2005. Evaluation of the F1 crosses of five bos indicus breeds with hereford for birth, growth, carcass, cow productivity and longevity characteristics. American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting. Regional Project S-1013. Little Rock, AR, February 8, 2005. 83(2):p. 88-99.

Interpretive Summary: Birth, growth, carcass and cow productivity traits were evaluated in cattle out of Hereford cows and by Angus, Gray Brahman, Gir, Indu-Brazil, Nellore and Red Brahman bulls. Angus sired calves had the shortest and Nellore the longest gestations (282 and 294 days, respectively); the others ranged from 289 to 291 days. Angus sired calves had lower birth weight (70 lb) than all except Gir crosses (72.6 lb), which were lightest of the Zebu crosses; Indu-Brazil crosses (86.0 lb) were heavier than all except Red Brahman crosses (82.3 lb). Red Brahman and Gray Brahman crosses had higher weaning weight (472 and 468 lb) than Gir and Angus crosses (435 and 437 lb); Indu-Brazil and Nellore crosses were intermediate. Yearling weight off pasture was lowest for the Angus crosses (509 lb) and was higher for Red Brahman and Gray Brahman crosses (597 and 594 lb) than for Nellore, Indu-Brazil and Gir crosses (568, 561 and 549 lb). Yearling hip height was lowest for the Angus crosses (43.3 in). Among the Zebu crosses, Nellore crosses (47.9 in) were taller than Gir crosses (46.8 in); others were intermediate. Feedlot gain for steers did not differ by breed and ranged from 3.23 lb/d in Gir crosses to 3.52 lb/d in Gray Brahman and Indu-Brazil crosses. Marbling score was highest for Angus crosses; among Zebu crosses, marbling did not differ. Carcass weight was higher for Red Brahman (675 lb) than for Angus crosses (607 lb); others were intermediate. Ribeye area did not differ among breeds and ranged from 11.7 to 12.0 sq. in. Yield grade was lower for Indu-Brazil crosses (2.3) than for Gray Brahman crosses (2.8); others were intermediate. Crossbred cows were bred to different breeds of bulls in different years. Birth weight for calves out of Angus sired cows (86.6 lb) was heavier than for those out of Gir and Nellore crosses (76.6 and 80.7 lb). Weaning weight for calves out of Zebu cross cows ranged from 562 to 574 lb; all were heavier than those out of Angus sired cows (499 lb). Cow weight at seven years of age was higher for Indu-Brazil, Red Brahman and Gray Brahman crosses (1258 to 1288 lb) than for Angus crosses (1146 lb); others were intermediate. All Zebu crosses were taller at the hip at seven years than Angus crosses (49.1 in). Indu-Brazil sired cows (54.4 in) were taller than Gir crosses (52.7 in). Calf crop weaned for Nellore crosses (96%) was higher than for Indu-Brazil, Angus and Red Brahman crosses (81, 83 and 86); Gray Brahman and Gir crosses were intermediate (88 and 92). Survival to 14 yr was higher in Nellore crosses (80%) than in Indu-Brazil (33%) and Red Brahman crosses (43%), and Angus, Gray Brahman, and Gir crosses were intermediate (53, 53 and 73%).

Technical Abstract: Birth, growth, carcass and cow productivity traits were evaluated in cattle out of Hereford cows and by Angus, Gray Brahman, Gir, Indu-Brazil, Nellore and Red Brahman bulls. Angus sired calves had the shortest and Nellore the longest (P < 0.05) gestations (282 and 294 days, respectively); others ranged from 289 to 291days. Angus sired calves had lower (P < 0.05) birth weight (70.0 lb) than all except Gir crosses (72.6 lb), which were lightest (P < 0.05) of the Zebu crosses; Indu-Brazil crosses (86.0 lb) were heavier (P < 0.05) than all except Red Brahman crosses (82.3 lb). Red Brahman and Gray Brahman crosses had higher (P < 0.05) weaning weight (472 and 468 lb) than Gir and Angus crosses (435 and 437 lb); Indu-Brazil and Nellore crosses were intermediate. Yearling weight off pasture was lowest for the Angus crosses (509 lb) and was higher (P < 0.05) for Red Brahman and Gray Brahman crosses (597 and 594 lb) than for Nellore, Indu-Brazil and Gir crosses (568, 561 and 549 lb). Yearling hip height was lowest (P < 0.05) for the Angus crosses (43.3 in). Among the Zebu crosses, Nellore crosses (47.9 in) were taller (P < 0.05) than Gir crosses (46.8 in); others were intermediate. Feedlot gain for steers did not differ (P > 0.05) by breed and ranged from 3.23 lb/d in Gir crosses to 3.52 lb/d in Gray Brahman and Indu-Brazil crosses. Marbling score was highest (P < 0.05) for A crosses (Sm 10); among Zebu crosses, marbling did not differ (P > 0.05) and ranged from Sl 45 to Sl 59. Carcass weight was higher (P < 0.05) for Red Brahman (676 lb) than for Angus crosses (607 lb); others were intermediate. Ribeye area did not differ (P > 0.05) and ranged from 11.7 to 12.0 in2. Yield grade was lower (P < 0.05) for Indu-Brazil crosses (2.3) than for Gray Brahman crosses (2.8); others were intermediate. Crossbred cows were bred to different breeds of bulls in different years; breed of service sire was confounded with year. Birth weight for calves out of Angus sired cows (86.6 lb) was heavier (P < 0.1) than for those out of Gir and Nellore crosses (76.6 and 80.7 lb); others were intermediate. Weaning weight for calves out of Bos indicus cross cows did not differ (P > 0.10) and ranged from 562 to 574 lb; all were heavier (P < 0.001) than those out of Angus sired cows (499 lb). Cow weight at seven years of age was higher (P < 0.1) for Indu-Brazil, Red Brahman and Gray Brahman crosses (1258 to 1288 lb) than for Angus crosses (1146 lb); others were intermediate. All Bos indicus crosses were taller (P < 0.05) at the hip at seven years than Angus crosses (49.1 in). Indu-Brazil sired cows (54.4 in) were taller (P < 0.05) than Gir crosses (52.7 in); others were intermediate. Calf crop weaned for Nellore crosses (96%) was higher (P < 0.1) than for Indu-Brazil, Angus and Red Brahman crosses (81, 83 and 86); Gray Brahman and Gir crosses were intermediate (88 and 92). Survival (under the culling policy practiced) to 14 yr was higher (P < 0.05) in Nellore crosses (80%) than in Indu-Brazil (33%) and Red Brahman crosses (43%). Angus, Gray Brahman, and Gir crosses were intermediate (53, 53 and 73%).