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Puberal Characteristics and Early Growth of Charolais Bulls on High Nutrient Allowance^{1, 2,}

The Pennsylvania State University^,4, University Park 16802

Abstract

Twenty-seven Charolais weanling purebred bulls, fed concentrate ad libitum, were used to study puberal characteristics and early growth. Three calves were removed from the experiment for inability to protrude the penis and serve the artificial vagina.

For the 24 bulls the average age at collection with artificial vagina of the first sperm and first motile sperm was 38 ± 1 and 39 ± 1 weeks, respectively. The first ejaculate meeting the minimum puberal criteria was obtained at a mean age of 41 ± 1 weeks. Body weight at puberty averaged 400 ± 13 kilograms. The ranges in age and body weight were 33 to 53 weeks and 266 to 499 kilograms. Semen characteristics and freezability of the first ejaculate were highly variable. First ejaculates for seven of the 24 bulls, however, satisfactorily withstood freezing and 3 weeks of storage in liquid nitrogen.

Body weight at 365 days of age averaged 520 ± 10 kg (range 430 to 615 kg).

¹ Authorized for publication as Paper No. 4476 in the Journal Series of The Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, University Park, on June 21, 1973.

² Supported in part by Atlantic Breeders Cooperative, Lancaster, Pa., Sire Power, Inc. and Northeastern Breeders Association, Tunkhannock, Pa., and the American-International Charolais Association, Houston, Texas.

³ The assistance of Jim Foster, Fredericksburg, Texas, and David Seamans, State College, Pa., in procurement of the calves is gratefully acknowledged.

⁴ Dairy Breeding Research Center, Department of Dairy Science.