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Brahman cattle in a temperate environment:II. Adaptability and grazing behaviour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. B. Moran
J. B. Moran
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock Husbandry, University of New England, Armidale, N.S.W., Australia
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Summary

On seven separate occasions during a year, 24-h studies were made on the grazing behaviour of four ¾-bred Brahman and four purebred Hereford steers in the cool temperate New England region of northern N.S.W.

Although both breeds spent approximately the same time grazing, the Brahmans ruminated for shorter periods and thus had a lower ruminating time to grazing time ratio than the Herefords. No signs of cold stress were observed in either breed even though the dry bulb temperature frequently fell below freezing point. However, the Herefords sought shade more than the Brahmans when the black body temperature exceeded 32°C.

It is concluded that a climate such as that of New England, where winters are cold, should in no way adversely affect the performance of Brahman-type cattle, as judged by their behaviour.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 74 , Issue 2 , April 1970 , pp. 323 - 327
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

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References

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