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The performance of different breeds of beef cattle in Cuba

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. B. Willis  and
T. R. Preston
M. B. Willis
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado 24, San José de las Lajas, Habana, Cuba
T. R. Preston
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado 24, San José de las Lajas, Habana, Cuba
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Extract

A method for performance testing beef bulls on a high-energy diet from 90 days of age to 400 kg is described. Test results for 81 bulls showed that both in weight-for-age at 400 kg and feed conversion on test there were significant differences between breeds in favour of the Charolais followed by Santa Gertrudis, Criollo and Zebu in that order. Results for 8 Holstein bulls reared artificially were similar to those for Santa Gertrudis.

Comparative data on birth weights, weaning weights and pre-weaning mortality indicate that the Zebu was inferior to the other beef breeds in all these traits.

Of 60 bulls slaughtered, liver abscesses were encountered in only 2 animals, both of which had been reared artificially from birth.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , February 1968 , pp. 77 - 83
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1968

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