J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Menchaca, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by Hammond, A. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Menchaca, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by Hammond, A. C.

Journal of Animal Science, Vol 74, Issue 9 2140-2151, Copyright © 1996 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Evaluation of growth curves of Brahman cattle of various frame sizes

M. A. Menchaca, C. C. Chase Jr, T. A. Olson and A. C. Hammond
University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-0910, USA.

Partial stage and complete life-cycle growth curves of Brahman cattle were obtained for small, medium, and large frame sizes for a herd under grazing conditions in a subtropical environment. Data were grouped into three stages: birth to weaning (stage 1), weaning to 20 mo (males) or 32 mo (females) of age (stage 2), and 32 mo of age to maturity (females only; stage 3). Within each stage, multiplicative growth models were developed for each frame size and sex. Body weight growth on age t was represented as exp(a + bt + ct2) for stages 1 and 2, and as exp(A + B exp(kt)) for stage 3. The effects of sire and progeny within sire were considered in all models. For stages 2 and 3, the effect of season was also included. To obtain complete life-cycle curves, a growth stage-multiplicative model with stages 1 and 2 was defined; stage 3 was also included for females. Due to a 1-mo adaptation period after weaning, a transition stage between stages 1 and 2 was defined and represented by the model exp(a + bt). In stage 1, the shape of the growth curve differed (P < .05) among frame size groups; sex did not affect the shape of the growth curves, but bull calves had heavier (P < .05) weights than heifer calves. In stage 2, the shape of the growth curves did not differ among frame sizes, but BW differed among frame sizes (P < .05) and sex affected (P < .05) the shape of the growth curves. In stage 3, the shape of the growth curves differed (P < .05) among frame sizes. There were sire effects (P < .05) for stages 1 and 2, but sire effects were not significant for stage 3. Season effects were important (P < .05) for stages 1 and 2. These results suggest that variability in growth patterns provides an opportunity to use management and nutrition to improve production efficiency in cattle of different frame sizes.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
C. Trangerud, J. Grondalen, A. Indrebo, A. Tverdal, E. Ropstad, and L. Moe
A longitudinal study on growth and growth variables in dogs of four large breeds raised in domestic environments
J Anim Sci, January 1, 2007; 85(1): 76 - 83.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
B. A. Sandelin, A. H. Brown Jr., M. A. Brown, Z. B. Johnson, D. W. Kellogg, and A. M. Stelzleni
Genotype x environmental interaction for mature size and rate of maturing for Angus, Brahman, and reciprocal-cross cows grazing bermudagrass or endophyte infected fescue
J Anim Sci, December 1, 2002; 80(12): 3073 - 3076.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1996 by the American Society of Animal Science.