Reproductive Behavior of Females in a Subtropical Environment. II. Gestation Length in Brahman Cattle

Abstract
Dates of breeding and birth dates of Brahman calves were obtained from two ranches in south Florida. The length of 1323 gestation periods was calculated. Errors due to the nature of this field study are discussed. The mean gestation length of 1048 gestation periods which were between 271 and 310 days was 292.8 days. The frequency distribution for the length of gestation periods is reported as well as the results of a variance analysis for location, sire and sex effects. While there was no difference between locations, sex and sire differences contributed significantly to the total variance, showing that the genotype of the calf affects the length of time it is carried in utero. The results are discussed in relation to the literature for Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle. Copyright © 1968. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1968 by American Society of Animal Science

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