scholarly journals Calf birth weight, gestation length, calving ease, and neonatal calf mortality in Holstein, Jersey, and crossbred cows in a pasture system

2013 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 690-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Dhakal ◽  
C. Maltecca ◽  
J.P. Cassady ◽  
G. Baloche ◽  
C.M. Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Crossbred Cows ◽  
Calving Ease ◽  
Neonatal Calf ◽  
Calf Mortality

PHENOTYPIC AND GENETIC PARAMETER ESTIMATES FOR GESTATION LENGTH, CALVING EASE AND BIRTH WEIGHT IN SIMMENTAL CATTLE

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 291-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. KEMP ◽  
J. W. WILTON ◽  
L. R. SCHAEFFER
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Random Mating ◽  
Genetic Parameter ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Calving Ease ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Genetic And Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Variance And Covariance Components

Variance components, heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated using progeny records of 73 sires on the Young Sire Proving Program (YSPP) of the Canadian Simmental Association. The YSPP was based on random mating of 58 test and 15 reference sires to cows in cooperating herds. Data were collected on several traits but the ones of interest in this study were gestation length (GL), calving ease (CE) and birth weight (BW). Variance and covariance components were estimated using Henderson's method 3. Heritability estimates were 0.24, 0.06 and 0.19 for GL, CE and BW, respectively. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were negative between GL and CE and CE and BW. Correlations between GL and BW were moderate and positive. Selection programs, utilizing large numbers of progeny per sire, would be effective but should incorporate the correlations between these traits. Key words: Heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations, selection

Reproductive performance and growth of Shorthorn purebred and crossbred cows

1971 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Fahmy ◽  
G. Lalande ◽  
M. Hidiroglou
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
The Other ◽  
Crossbred Cows ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Calf Mortality ◽  
First Time ◽  
Maximum Body

SUMMARYData 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.

scholarly journals BREED OF DAM, AGE OF DAM AND SEX OF CALF EFFECTS IN THE CANADIAN SIMMENTAL YOUNG SIRE PROVING PROGRAM

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
R. A. KEMP ◽  
L. R. SCHAEFFER ◽  
J. W. WILTON
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Calving Ease ◽  
Sire Evaluation ◽  
Unbiased Estimates ◽  
Best Linear Unbiased

Canadian Simmental Association Young Sire Proving Program records (1978–1982) were used to estimate breed of dam by age of dam by sex of calf effects for several traits. Two models were used. Model 1 included fixed herd-years, breed of dam by age of dam by sex of calf (BAX) plus random sire and residual effects. Model 2 included fixed herd-year by sex of calf and breed of dam by age of dam (BA) plus random sire and residual effects. Both models included additive genetic relationships among sires and maternal grandsires. Traits used with Model 1 were gestation length (GL), calving ease (CE), birth weight (BW), gain on dam (GD) and 200-day weight (WW). Model 2 was used for gain on test (GT) and 365-day weight (YW). Mixed model techniques were used to obtain best linear unbiased estimates of BAX and BA from models 1 and 2, respectively. Hypothesis tests were conducted using two breed of dam groups ([Formula: see text] Simmental (S) and [Formula: see text] British breeds (B)) and four age of dam groups (2, 3, 4 and 5 + yr which correspond to < 31, 31–42, 43–54 and > 54 mo, respectively). Three-way subclasses (BAX) were significant (P < 0.01) for GL, CE, BW, GD and WW as were two-way subclasses (BA) for YW. Estimated differences for breed of dam by age of dam by six of calf subclasses (for GL, CE, BW, GD, WW) and breed of dam by age of dam subclasses (for YW) generally increased as age of dam increased. Accounting for breed of dam, age of dam, sex of calf and interaction effects are important in sire evaluation. Estimated differences of these effects, a by-product of sire evaluation, can be used to increase the accuracy of procedures for individual and dam evaluation. Key words: Breed of dam by age of dam by sex of calf effects, sire evaluation, mixed model techniques

CALVING EASE AND CALF MORTALITY IN FIRST-CROSS AND BACKCROSS COWS

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54
Author(s):  
R. M. McKAY ◽  
G. W. RAHNEFELD ◽  
G. M. WEISS ◽  
H. T. FREDEEN ◽  
J. A. NEWMAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Range Management ◽  
Intensive Management ◽  
Calving Ease ◽  
Extensive Range ◽  
Calf Mortality

Calving ease and calf mortality were evaluated for calves out of first-cross and backcross cows maintained under two contrasting environments. All calves were sired by Limousin bulls. The dam crosses at Brandon were HA, SN, CN, ACA, CCA, ASA, SSA, HCH, CCH, HSH, SSH, NCN, CCN, SSN, and NSN with H = Hereford, A = Angus, N = Shorthorn, C = Charolais, S = Simmental and a SSA cross was 3/4 Simmental-1/4 Angus. At Manyberries the dam crosses were HA, SN, ASA, SSA, HSH, SSH, NSN, and SSN. The calves were born between 1982 and 1986, inclusive, at Brandon, Manitoba (semi-intensive management) and Manyberries, Alberta (extensive range management). At Brandon, when calf birth weight was not a covariate, the significant dam cross contrasts for calving ease included less difficulty for SN cows than either the SSN or NSN cows, and for 3/4 A-1/4 European continental (E) cows than 1/4A–3/4E cows. When adjusted to a common calf birth weight the significant contrasts were HA cows had more difficulty than SN cows and the combination of SN and CN cows, SN cows had less difficulty than NSN cows, and 3/4A–1/4E cows had less difficulty than 1/4A–3/4E cows. At Manyberries, regardless of whether calf birth weight was excluded or included as a covariate, the SN cows had less difficulty than the SSN and the SSN cows had less difficulty than NSN cows. No significant dam cross comparisons were observed for calf mortality scores. Adjusting the calving ease scores to a constant calf birth weight did not significantly alter the magnitude of the contrasts but it did shift their probability levels. Location and sex of calf effects were not significant except for calving ease at Brandon where more difficulty was associated with male calves than female calves. Key words: Beef cattle, crossbreeding, backcrosses, calving, mortality

Effect of pre- and post- natal nutrition on the growth of beef cattle I. The effect of nutrition and parity of the dam on calf birth weight

1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
GD Tudor
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Calf Mortality ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Length Of Gestation

The influence of submaintenance (low plane) nutrition during the last trimester of pregnancy, and parity of the dam, on calf birth weight was studied in Hereford cows.The submaintenance ration (3.5 kg Rhodes grass hay per head per day) significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the mean calf birth weight by 6.8 kg to 24 1 kg, and the mean length of gestation by 5.4 days to 277.3 days, compared with an above-maintenance (high plane) ration (3.5 kg each of Rhodes grass hay and barley grain per head per day). Dam nutrition, however, did not influence the number of retained placentae, calf mortality, or the incidence of dystocias. Dam parity did not significantly influence calf birth weight or length of gestation, but significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the number of retained placentae of second parity cows. There were no significant differences between sexes in mean birth weight or mean gestation length. The regression of calf birth weight on dam weight just prior to calving was significant (P < 0.05) for high plane cows: y = 20.248 + 0.023x, r = 0.40. The regression of calf birth weight on length of gestation was significant for both high(P < 0.05) and low(P < 0.01) plane cows: y = –28.343 + 0.210x, r = 0.40, and y = -41.015 + 0.235x, r = 0.42 respectively.

A comparison of breeds and their crosses for beef production. I. Birth and weaning traits

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
JHL Morgan ◽  
GR Saul
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Calf Mortality ◽  
Calving Difficulty ◽  
Friesian Cows

Hereford and Friesian cows aged 12-15 months in 1970, were inseminated with semen from Hereford, Friesian, Charolais and Brahman bulls each year from 1970 to 1973 to produce a total of 736 calves. All cows and calves were grazed together, and the total of 650 surviving calves weaned at c. 8 months of age. Cow age and year of calving were confounded. Hereford cows had longer gestations, smaller calves, more calving difficulty and greater calf mortality than Friesian cows. Hereford cows provided their calves with less than half as much milk as did Friesian cows; the weaning weight advantage of calves from Friesian cows varied from 48 % in 2-year-old cows to 22-24 % in 3-, 4- and 5-year-old cows. Relative to Hereford sires, the use of Charolais and Brahman sires on Hereford and Friesian cows resulted in increases in gestation length, birth weight, calf mortality and calving difficulty; the use of Friesian sires tended to increase calving difficulty, but did not increase gestation length, birth weight or calf mortality. In Hereford cows, the use of Charolais and Friesian sires, as compared with Hereford sires, increased weaning weight by 8 % on average over the 4 years (the increase was zero in 2- and 3-year-old cows and 11-18 % in 4- and 5-year-old cows); the use of Brahman sires did not increase weaning weight. In Friesian cows, the use of Charolais sires, as compared with Hereford sires, increased weaning weight by 5-10% in all years; the use of Friesian sires did not influence weaning weight whilst the use of Brahman sires reduced it by 5%. Heterosis from crossing the Hereford and Friesian breeds increased the weaning weight of the first-cross calves by 3.4%.

Linear–threshold animal model for birth weight, gestation length and calving ease in United Kingdom Limousin beef cattle data

2009 ◽  
Vol 122 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 143-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaarina Matilainen ◽  
Raphael Mrode ◽  
Ismo Strandén ◽  
Robin Thompson ◽  
Esa A. Mäntysaari
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Calving Ease ◽  
Linear Threshold

scholarly journals Genetic and Non-genetic Factors Affecting Gestation Length and Calve Birth Weight of Sahiwal-Friesian Crossbred Groups

2010 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
MAI Talukder ◽  
JM Panandam
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Genetic Effect ◽  
Additive Genetic Effect ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Breed Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Calf Mortality ◽  
Sire Breed

This study focused on the dairy unit at the Ladang Pusat Ternakan Haiwan Ayer Hitam in Johor, Malaysia. Eight crossbreed groups namely M50, M50-1, M50-2, M50-3, M56, M63, M75 and M75-1 were evaluated. Retrospective data on gestation length and calf birth weight were extracted for evaluation of 1346 animals and were analyzed between 1981 and 2001. Effects of breed group, parity, calf sex and age at calving were non significant for GL. Year of birth was only significant (P<0.05) affected for GL. The GL for the breed groups ranged between 279 - 283 days. The cow breed group x parity interaction effect was significant (P<0.05) for CBW. Sire breed group, calf sex and age at calving significantly (P<0.05) affected the CBW. There was no significant difference in CBW of the cow breed groups for the first two parities. M50, M50-1, M63 and M75-1 had significantly (P<0.05) higher CBW in the third and fourth parity (26.76-28.98 kg). M50-3 and M56 had significantly (P<0.05) lower CBW than M50 and M63. M56 had the lowest (P<0.05) CBW in the fourth parity (22.22 ± 1.24 kg). Individual additive genetic effect, maternal additive genetic effect, individual heterosis and maternal heterosis were non-significant for GL and CBW. Calf sex significantly (P<0.01) affected the CBW in all breed groups except M56 and M63. Male calves weighed significantly (P<0.01) heavier than female calves in the earlier breed group. Calf mortality ranged between 3.49 - 7.27%. The highest calf mortality at birth was observed in M75 (7.27%) followed by M50-3 (6.8%) and M75-1 (5.66%). The lowest mortality was observed in M50-1. M50, M50-1, M63 and M75-1 had better performance on CBW. Higher Friesian grades calf mortality rate was higher than lower Friesian grades. The non genetic factor year of birth only affected GL, but most of the genetic and non genetic factors significantly (P<0.05) affected the CBW.

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