A field study of coat shedding in cattle under conditions of equal day-length but different temperatures

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Abstract
A comparison has been made over 2 years of spring shedding in cattle maintained in two environments experiencing a similar photoperiod but vastly different seasonal temperatures. At each location (Walcha and Narrabi, N.S.W.) experimental animals were divided into two nutritional groups, namely a Feed group and a Pasture group.2. In 1961-62 both the Feed and Pasture groups in the warmer climate of Narrabri shed their winter coats in October, while animals maintained under the cooler conditions of Walcha did not acquire their summer coats until January of the following year. The Narrabri groups, however, also displayed superior live-weight gains than the corresponding groups exposed to the more severe winter conditions prevailing at Walcha.3. The following year (1962-63) a differential feeding programme was adopted for the two Feed groups which resulted in their live-weight gains for the experiment being similar. Although the low ration of hay fed to the Narrabri Feed group to achieve this parity of weight gains introduced a nutritional stress factor in the group, these animals displayed a slightly superior shedding ability than did those in the Walcha Feed group.