J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1988. 66:1355-1362.
© 1988 American Society of Animal Science
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Comparison of Gelbvieh and Limousin Sires in a Terminal Crossbreeding System1,2,

E. D. Tinker, R. R. Frahm3 and D. S. Buchanan

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078

Abstract

The Gelbvieh and Limousin breeds were evaluated for use as terminal sires over a 4-yr period (1982 to 1985). A total of 778 calves from 28 bulls (seven per year) of each breed were produced from eight two-breed-cross cow groups. Calves were raised by their dams, without creep feed, on native and bermudagrass pastures until weaned at an average age of 205 d. Although calving difficulty was similar, Gelbvieh-sired calves were 1.0 kg heavier (P < .05) at birth and had 2.1% higher (P < .05) preweaning mortality. They also gained 56 g/d faster (P < .01) to weaning and were 12.0 kg heavier (P < .01) at weaning than Limousin-sired calves. Calves born in 1982 and 1984 (409 head) were placed in a feedlot and fed ad libitum a corn-based finishing diet. Animals were selected individually for slaughter when they attained an estimated low Choice quality grade, based on USDA rating standards. Gelbvieh-sired cattle were 13.1 kg heavier (P < .01) when placed on feed, 9.3 kg heavier (P < .10) at slaughter and were in the feedlot 6.5 d less (P < .05) than Limousin-sired cattle. Feedlot daily gain and feed efficiency were similar for cattle from the two sire breeds. Limousin-sired cattle had a .7% advantage (P < .01) in dressing percentage, but had .17 cm more s. c. fat (P < .01). Hot carcass weight, carcass weight/day of age, estimated percentage of kidney, pelvic and heart fat, longissimus area, estimated percentage cutability and quality grade were similar for the two sire breeds, with overall least squares means of 341.8 kg, 756 g, 2.70%, 90.2 cm2, 50.64% and 9.53 (10 = low Choice), respectively. Calves sired by the two breeds performed similarly, indicating that the Gelbvieh breed would be as useful as the Limousin breed as a terminal sire.

Footnotes

1 Journal Article 5259 of the Agric. Exp. Sta., Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater. Research was conducted by the Anim. Sci. Dept. (OAES Project 1502) in co-operation with USDA, SEA, Southern Region and contributes to the Regional Beef Cattle Breeding Project, NC-1.

2 The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of H. G. Dolezal and S. G. May in collecting the carcass data.

3 Present address: Dept. of Anim. Sci., Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg 24061.






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Copyright © 1988 by the American Society of Animal Science.