Evaluation of beef breeds for rangeland weaner production in Zimbabwe 2. Productivity of crossbred cows and heterosis estimates

Abstract

ABSTRACTCrossbred cows were evaluated for reproductive performance and live weight, and for pre-weaning growth and viability of progeny sired by seven unrelated breeds. They were also evaluated on overall productivity expressed as weight of weaned calf per cow mated per year, per 100 kg of cow per year and per 100 kg metabolic weight of cow per year. The cows comprised reciprocals of Africander with Mashona, Nkone, Brahman and Sussex, one-way crosses sired by Sussex out of Mashona, Nkone and Brahman dams, and by Charolais out of Africander, Mashona, Nkone, Brahman and Sussex dams. These represented sanga × sanga, sanga × zebu, Bos taurus × sanga, Bos taurus × zebu and Bos taurus × Bos taurus crossbred types. Bos taurus × zebu crosses were superior to other breed types for all the three productivity indices and for virtually all the individual components of these. There was little difference between the other four breed types in overall productivity of components of these. Differences between reciprocals were observed in sanga × sanga and sanga × zebu, cows with Africander dams being more productive than reciprocals with Mashona, Nkone and Brahman dams. The Bos taurus × Bos taurus cross was inferior in overall productivity primarily due to large cow weight and relatively low growth rate of progeny. Progeny sired by Friesian, Simmental and Brahman had higher weaning weights than those sired by Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Africander and Tuli. Overall, heterosis was positive for all traits and averaged 0·15 for the three measures of cow productivity. Heterosis was three times higher in the Bos taurus × Bos indicus cross than in the Bos indicus crosses.