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Reproductive performance and growth of Shorthorn purebred and crossbred cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. H. Fahmy ,
G. Lalande  and
M. Hidiroglou
M. H. Fahmy
Affiliation:
Research Station, Canada Department of Agriculture, Lennoxville, Québec
G. Lalande
Affiliation:
Research Station, Canada Department of Agriculture, Lennoxville, Québec
M. Hidiroglou
Affiliation:
Animal Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada†
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Summary

Data were obtained from 27 pure Shorthorn, 22 Angus × Shorthorn, 31 Charolais × Shorthorn and 27 Hereford × Shorthorn cows, during 10 years. Angus × Shorthorn cows required the least number of services per conception (1·17), had the shortest average gestation lengths (280·6 days), and had a calving percentage of 88·2% and birth weight of calf of 29·8 kg. The respective figures for Charolais × Shorthorn were 1·21 services, 281·6 days, 88·3% (the highest) and 32·9 kg (the heaviest), for Hereford × Shorthorn 1·23 services, 283·6 days, 84·4% and 31·6 kg, and for pure Shorthorn 1·20 services, 282·2 days, 82·7% and 29·6 kg. Average calf weight at birth increased with the advance in age of cow up to 5 years, then showed little change. Seventy-two per cent of the crossbred cows calved for the first time at 2 years old compared with 65% of the Shorthorns. On the other hand, Shorthorn cows had the highest twinning percentage (2·9%) and the lowest single calf mortality at birth (1·4%). The maximum body weights of Angus, Charolais, and Hereford crossbreds and Shorthorn cows were 576·8, 655·8, 6254 and 553·8 kg respectively at 7–8 years of age.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , February 1971 , pp. 7 - 14
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1971

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References

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