New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Growth, reproduction, and carcass and meat quality characteristics of once-bred
Hereford x Friesian and Simmental x Friesian heifers managed for low or high
liveweight gain during mid pregnancy
A. A. KHADEM1
S. T. MORRIS*
R. W. PURCHAS
S. N. McCUTCHEON
Department of Animal Science
Massey University
Palmerston North, New Zealand
W. J. PARKER
Department of Agricultural and Horticultural
Systems Management
Massey University
Palmerston North, New Zealand
1Present address: Department of Animal Science, Institute of
Abourayhan, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract The growth, reproduction, carcass and meat quality
characteristics of once-bred Hereford x Friesian (H x F) and Simmental x
Friesian (S x F) heifers mated to Angus sires and managed for high gain ("HG"
group) or low gain ("LG" group) during mid pregnancy (i.e. pregnancy days
114-214 = P114-P214) were compared in this study. Liveweights at mating of S x
F heifers (347 +/- 6 kg) were slightly higher (P < 0.10) than those
of H x F heifers (333 +/- 5 kg). From P114 until P214, HG heifers had
significantly higher (P < 0.001) growth rates (0.72 +/- 0.03
kg/day) than the LG group (0.16 +/- 0.02 kg/day). This resulted in a higher
liveweight in HG heifers at P214 (P < 0.001) and P270 (P <
0.01) than in the LG heifers. Gestation length, calving score, and liveweight
loss at calving were not influenced by dam genotype or mid-pregnancy liveweight
gain. Liveweight gain of the 24 heifers that suckled calves was not affected by
dam genotype or prior liveweight gain of the dam during the suckling period or
from weaning to slaughter (an average liveweight gain of 0.33 kg/day). Calf
birth weight, weaning weight, and daily liveweight gain during a 106-day
suckling period were not influenced by genotype or prior liveweight gain of the
dam. Final heifer liveweight was slightly lower (P < 0.10) in LG
versus HG heifers (476.4 versus 512.7, PSE = 16.2 kg). Dressing-out percentage
was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in H x F heifers than in the S x
F group, while mid-pregnancy liveweight gain had no effect on dressing-out
percentages. There was a tendency (P < 0.10) for H x F versus S x F
or HG versus LG heifers to produce carcasses with greater levels of fat.
However, muscularity and meat quality traits were not affected by dam genotype
or mid-pregnancy liveweight gain. Results are discussed in the context of beef
production from once-bred S x F versus H x F heifers under New Zealand
conditions.
Keywords Friesian; Simental; Hereford; heifers; beef
production; liveweight gain
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1996, Vol. 39: 271-280
0028-8233/96/3902-0271 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1996
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (821K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
