CROSSES OF THREE EXOTIC AND THREE BRITISH BREEDS: PERFORMANCE IN TWO ENVIRONMENTS OF TWO-YEAR-OLD COWS AND THEIR CALVES

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Abstract
The 1150 heifers compared were Hereford-Angus (HA), and those sired by Simmental (S), Charolais (C), and Limousin (L) out of Hereford (H), Angus (A), and Shorthorn (N) dams. They were bred to Beefmaster and Red Angus bulls under range (Manyberries, Alta.) and farm-type (Brandon, Man.) conditions. The HA heifers were the lightest at 18 mo and 30 mo, and along with LH and LA were the lightest at 24 mo. Also, HA had the shortest gestation period and, along with LN and LA, progeny with the lightest birth weights. Progeny of all breed crosses surpassed the HA progeny in weaning weight, although only the three S crosses and the LN exceeded them in weaning weight ratio. Progeny of SN had the heaviest weaning weight and the highest weaning weight ratio. Reproduction and calving traits did not differ among crosses. Cows at Brandon were lighter at 18 mo, but heavier at 24 and 30 mo and produced calves that were 7.3% heavier at weaning than those at Manyberries. Beefmaster-sired calves were carried 3.2 days longer, were heavier at birth (9.4%) and weaning (5.7%), and had 10.4% more assisted births and more calf deaths at calving (7.6% vs. 3.4%) than Red Angus-sired calves. Evaluations continue.