Tarentaise and hereford breed effects on cow and calf traits and estimates of individual heterosis

• Published in: Journal of animal science Vol. 73; no. 9; p. 2574
• Main Authors: Kress, D D, Doornbos, D E, Anderson, D C, Davis, K C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.1995
• Subjects: altura; Analysis of Variance; Animals; beef cattle; biological differences; birth weight; body condition; body measurements; bovin de boucherie; Breeding; breeds animals; calves; Cattle - genetics; Cattle - growth & development; Cattle - physiology; complicaciones del parto; complication du part; condicion corporal; croisement; crossbreeding; cruzamiento; diferencias biologicas; difference biologique; etat corporel; Female; ganado de carne; hauteur; height; heterosis; Hybrid Vigor - genetics; Hybrid Vigor - physiology; lactacion; lactation; Lactation - physiology; Male; medicion del cuerpo; mensuration corporelle; Milk - metabolism; milk yield; montana; parturition complications; peso al destete; peso al nacimiento; poids a la naissance; poids au sevrage; race animal; razas animales; rendement laitier; rendimiento lechero; Reproduction - physiology; ternero; veau; vigor hibrido; vigueur hybride; Weaning; weaning weight
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/1995.7392574x

Preweaning and weaning records on 457 calves and weights and milk production of their dams were used to evaluate breed of dam effects, breed of sire effects, and individual heterosis effects. Hereford and Tarentaise dams were mated to Hereford and Tarentaise sires and calves were born from 1987 to 1991. Calf traits were birth weight, proportion calving difficulty, weaning weight, weaning height, weaning weight:height ratio, and condition score at weaning. Cow traits were milk production, four weights during the year, weight changes, height at weaning, condition score, ratio of calf weight:cow weight, proportion calved and weaned, and calf weaning weight per cow exposed to breeding. Breed of sire was nonsignificant for all traits except calf hip height, but breed of dam was significant for calf weaning weight and condition score, late milk production, change in milk production, and the cow traits of all weights, condition score, weight:height ratio, and ratio of calf weight:cow weight. Least squares means for Hereford and Tarentaise dams, respectively, were 216 and 236 kg for calf weaning weight, 6.2 and 9.3 kg for late milk production, 559 and 507 kg for cow weight at weaning, 6.0 and 4.9 for cow condition score, and 0.39 and 0.47 for ratio of calf weight at weaning:cow weight at weaning. Heterosis was significant for birth weight (1.05 kg, 3%, P = 0.01), weaning weight (11.0 kg, 5%, P = 0.01), and condition score (.13, 2%, P = 0.06). Thus, Hereford dams weighed more and had higher levels of condition, whereas Tarentaise dams produced more milk late in lactation and weaned heavier calves.