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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #69252
Title: PREWEANING PERFORMANCE OF BRAHMAN AND BEEFMASTER SIRED CALVES ON THREE FORAGE SYSTEMS

Author
item BROWN, MICHAEL
item BROWN JR, A - UNIV OF ARKANSAS
item Rainosek, Perry
item MIESNER, JAMES

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/24/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Three years of data from 92 purebred Angus (AA) and Brahman (BB) cows bred to Beefmaster (BM) and Brahman (BB) bulls were used to evaluate sire and dam breed effects on different forage systems. Cows and calves were managed on one of three forage systems: endophyte-infected tall fescue all year (E+E+); common bermudagrass in summer and endophyte-infected tall fescue in fall and spring (E+CB); or common bermudagrass in summer and endophyte-free tall fescue in fall and spring (E-CB). Data on 197 spring-born calves were used in this study. Calves were weighed and tagged at birth and were not creepfed. Calves were weaned and weighed at approximately 205 days of age and hip heights taken. There was little evidence of sire breed or forage effects or interactions on birthweight with calves from BM and BB sires averaging 39 and 37 kg, respectively. Calves from AA cows were 7.7 kg heavier at birth than calves from BB cows (P<.01). Averaged over sire breed, 205-d weights for calves on E-CB exceeded those on E+E+ by 15 kg (P<.05). Averaged over forages, there was little evidence of differences in BM compared to BB sires when bred to Angus. Predictable decreases in 205-d weight were observed in BM x BB and BB x BB compared to the crosses with Angus cows(P<.05). These data do not suggest any notable advantage for any of the breed groups on any particular forage system. A predictable trend for improved performance as E+ is removed from the forage system was evident as was a similar trend as heterozygosity was increased in the progeny.