Characterization of Cattle of a Five Breed Diallel: I. Measures of Size, Condition and Growth in Bulls

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Abstract
Data on bulls from a five-breed diallel among Angus, Brahman, Hereford, Holstein and Jersey, reciprocals pooled, were analyzed. Characters included weight, height at hooks, weight to height ratio and condition score at, as well as daily gains of weight and height between selected ages from 270 to 630 days. Breedtype differences were statistically significant for most weight to height ratio characters. Appreciable average heterosis was observed for weight (10 to 12%), height (2 to 3%), weight to height ratio (7 to 9%) and weight gain (6%); differences were small between crossbreds and straightbreds for condition score and for absolute growth rate for height. Among straightbreds, Holsteins were heaviest and tallest with highest gains in weight and height across the ages studied. For weight, rank of the other breeds was Angus, Hereford, Brahman and Jersey; for height, rank generally was Brahman, Angus, Jersey, Hereford. For weight to height ratio, Angus and Holstein exhibited highest values across ages, Herefords were usually third, and Brahman and Jersey were fourth and fifth, respectively; of course, differences in weight to height ratio may be due to any of several factors and comparisons should be interpreted with care. Among crossbreeds, Brahman × Holstein, Hereford × Holstein and Angus × Brahman were among the heaviest; Jersey crosses were lightest. Across ages, Brahman × Holstein and Brahman × Jersey closely followed by Holstein × Jersey and Angus × Brahman were tallest of the crossbreds; crosses among the Angus, Hereford and Jersey breeds were lowest in height at hooks. The traditional beef breeds Angus, Brahman, Hereford and their crosses tended to be fatter than Holstein, Jersey and crosses of these traditionally dairy breeds. Parameter estimates from a diallel analysis of variance were used to present results for some of the characters in an alternate form. The results presented illustrate the variation in cattle breedtypes available for use in beef production systems. Differences among breed-types for growth and weight characteristics suggest that optimal slaughter ages and weights would be different. Marketing schemes that unduly restrict slaughter weight and other characteristics tend to constrain potential improvement in efficiency. Copyright © 1979. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1979 by American Society of Animal Science.