Sire Effects on Birth Weight, Gestation Length, and Pre-Weaning Growth of Beef-Cross-Dairy Calves: A Case Study in New Zealand

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dc.citation.issue3
dc.citation.volume2
dc.contributor.authorColeman L
dc.contributor.authorBack P
dc.contributor.authorBlair H
dc.contributor.authorLópez-Villalobos N
dc.contributor.authorHickson R
dc.contributor.editorMeyer U
dc.date.accessioned2024-06-11T23:36:33Z
dc.date.available2024-06-11T23:36:33Z
dc.date.issued2021-09-01
dc.description.abstractProduction of beef-cross-dairy calves from dairy cows increases the value of non-replacement calves born to the dairy herd. The use of beef-breed sires may impact on calf birth weight, gestation length and pre-weaning growth rate of calves, which in turn influences the profitability of the dairy farm. The aim of this case study was to compare the birth weight, gestation length, and pre-weaning growth of progeny born to mixed-aged dairy cows on a single farm which were artificially bred to a selection of Angus and Hereford bulls, typical of those used over dairy herds in New Zealand. The birth weight, gestation length and pre-weaning growth of 980 calves sired by 65 sires were compared. Mean progeny birth weight (range 33.3–41.4 kg), gestation length (range 276.1–288.6 days), age at weaning (range 70.3–88.3 days) and pre-weaning ADG (range 0.63–0.76 kg/d) differed among sires (p < 0.001). There was a negative genetic correlation (−0.31) and positive phenotypic correlation (0.36) between gestation length and birth weight. Age at weaning was negatively correlated with birth weight (genetic: −0.56, phenotypic: −0.57). Bulls used in this study, and other bulls with similar genetic merit for birth weight and gestation length would be suitable for mating mixed-aged dairy cows in New Zealand.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionSeptember 2021
dc.format.pagination385-395
dc.identifier.citationColeman L, Back P, Blair H, López-Villalobos N, Hickson R. (2021). Sire Effects on Birth Weight, Gestation Length, and Pre-Weaning Growth of Beef-Cross-Dairy Calves: A Case Study in New Zealand. Dairy. 2. 3. (pp. 385-395).
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/dairy2030030
dc.identifier.eissn2624-862X
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/69789
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherMDPI (Basel, Switzerland)
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/2624-862X/2/3/30
dc.relation.isPartOfDairy
dc.rights(c) 2021 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectcalf
dc.subjectbeef-cross-dairy
dc.subjectdairy-beef
dc.subjectbirth weight
dc.subjectgestation length
dc.subjectpre-weaning growth
dc.titleSire Effects on Birth Weight, Gestation Length, and Pre-Weaning Growth of Beef-Cross-Dairy Calves: A Case Study in New Zealand
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id459859
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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