Replacement Heifer Selection in A Beef Cattle Herd | Science Publications

American Journal of Applied Sciences

Roger McCraw¹  Akin Pala¹ 

关键词: Beef;    Replacement;    Conception;    Dam Amount of Fat;    Weaning Weight;   

DOI  :  10.3844/ajassp.2005.542.544

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

来源: Science Publications

【 摘 要 】

The relationship between a heifer's weaning weight and her fertility and weaning weight ofher calves was studied. Also investigated was the effect of dam amount of fat (DAF=dam weaningweight/weaning height) on heifers' ability to breed and rebreed. This is similar to Body Mass Index(BMI) calculated for humans. The relationship of dam's average daily gain from birth to weaning andfrom weaning to finishing and DAF to calf weaning weight was studied also. These determine whichheifers should be kept as replacements. Data were collected from 816 heifers. Heavier animals hadhigher conception rates. Average daily gain of the dam from birth to weaning and DAF had adverseeffects on calf weaning weight. This suggests that over-conditioned heifers are likely to have lightercalves. In addition, the cubic model of dam weaning weight showed that after a weight of 272 kg, calfweaning weights no longer increased with increasing dam weaning weights.

【 授权许可】

Unknown