Post-weaning gain of calves from first-cross and reciprocal back-cross cows

Abstract

Data on post-weaning gains and final test weights are reported for 2010 Limousin-sired steer and heifer calves from cows of 15 different F1 cross and back-cross breed types incorporating Charolais, Simmental, Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn breeding. Calves representing all 15 dam breed types were born and weaned under semi-intensive management at Brandon, Manitoba, then finished there on a self-fed all-concentrate diet. A subset representing eight dam breed crosses was born and weaned under extensive range management at Manyberries, Alberta, then fed at Lacombe, Alberta, on a lower energy diet of silage and concentrate mixed and fed to appetite in bunks. A comparison of common breed types revealed that the Brandon calves were lighter at weaning but gained more rapidly in the post-weaning test than the Manyberries/Lacombe calves. Under the Lacombe feeding regime, there were no significant differences in rate of gain on the feedlot test, but progeny of breed types containing some Simmental breeding generally reached a higher final weight than progeny of Hereford × Angus cows because of differences in weight at the beginning of the test. Under the higher energy feeding regime at Brandon, progeny of breed types containing Charolais or Simmental generally gained faster and attained higher final weights than progeny of Hereford × Angus cows. Progeny of Charolais × British and Simmental × British F1 cross cows generally performed as well as, or better than, the progeny of either backcross. Key words: Beef cattle, post-weaning gain, crossbred dam, back-cross dam, European cross