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Crossbred and Purebred Dams for the Production of Slaughter Calves¹

South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Clemson

Abstract

Purebred Angus and crossbred Brahman x Angus, Hereford x Angus, and Brahman x Hereford cows were bred to a Shorthorn bull. One bull was used for the entire test and all cows were bred to him each year. Birth weights, 210-day weights, slaughter grades, carcass grades and dressing percentages were obtained on 167 calves. The data were adjusted by least squares methods for differences due to year of birth and sex. A steer calf born in 1957 was the basis for the adjustment of each calf's record.

The calves out of Hereford x Angus cows had an average adjusted birth weight of 75.39 lb. and were significantly heavier than those in the other groups. No significant differences were found among the birth weights of the other groups.

The two groups of cows that were sired by the Brahman bulls produced the heaviest calves at 210 days of age. The average weight of the calves out of Brahman x Angus cows was 557.47 lb. as compared to 537.61 lb. for those out of the Brahman x Hereford cows. The weights of these groups were significantly different and both groups were significantly heavier than the calves out of the Hereford x Angus or purebred Angus cows.

The average slaughter grades of the calves varied from middle to high good. Calves out of Hereford x Angus cows were graded lower than those out of the Brahman x Hereford cows. There were no significant differences between the other groups. The carcass grades were significantly lower for the calves out of the Hereford x Angus cows. Differences between the other groups were not significant. The dressing percentages of the calves out of the Brahman x Hereford cows were significantly higher than in the other groups. No other significant differences were found.

¹ Technical Contribution No. 316, South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Animal Husbandry Department, Contributing to Southern Regional Project, S-10. The authors acknowledge the assistance of S. G. Woods, H. A. Breazeale and J. R. Ables, Assistant Animal Husbandmen, in obtaining these data.