Reproductive Performance and Birth Characters of Divergent Breed and Crosses of Beef Cattle

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Abstract
Reproductive performance and calving traits of divergent breeds and F1 crosses of beef cattle (N = 755 matings) were evaluated. Mating groups were straightbred Hereford and Red Poll, Hereford × Red Poll reciprocal crosses, Angus × Hereford, Angus × Charolais, Brahman × Hereford and Brahman × Angus. The overall mean for percentage live calves born in relation to the number of females exposed to breeding was 85%. Pregnancy rate for Hereford cows bred to Brahman sires was 10% lower (P<.05) than for straightbred Hereford or Angus × Hereford matings; however, differences in percentage full-term calves were nonsignificant. Brahman × Hereford calves were heavier (P<.01) at birth than straightbred Herefords, Red Poll × Hereford or Angus × Hereford crosses, but these mating groups were similar in incidence of dystocia. Red Poll dams gave birth to heavier calves than Herefords and experienced greater (P<.01) calving difficulty. Calves from Charolais dams weighed more (P<.01) at birth than those from Hereford females, and Herefords produced larger (P<.01) calves than Angus. There was no evidence of mating group differences in mothering instinct or calf survival during the perinatal period. Percentage live calves was higher (P<.05) for straightbred Hereford and Red Poll × Hereford matings than for Hereford × Red Poll crosses. Heterosis in Hereford × Red Poll matings was not significant for any of the traits analyzed. Copyright © 1980. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1980 by American Society of Animal Science.