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Heterosis Expression for Preweaning Traits under Commercial Beef Cattle Conditions¹

University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506

Abstract

Data collected under commercial beef cattle conditions on straightbred Angus, Hereford and both reciprocal crosses were utilized to estimate heterosis for birth weight, weaning weight and weaning type score. Weaning weights and weaning type scores were collected during the 6-year period, 1969 through 1974; however, birth weights were recorded only during the 3-year period, 1972 through 1974. Number of observations for the three traits was 143, 600 and 600, respectively, for birth weight, weaning weight and weaning type score. Heterosis estimates were 0, 4.8 and 1.8%, respectively, for birth weight, weaning weight and weaning type score. With the exception of birth weight, these heterosis estimates realized under commercial conditions agree reasonably well with results presented in the literature based on experiments involving crossing of the Angus and Hereford breeds.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article 77-5213.

² The authors express appreciation to Broadbent Farms, Cadiz, Kentucky, for making the data available for this study.