A study of crossbreeding and inter se mating of Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle

Records accumulated from Brahman, Angus, Africander and their crosses during the period 1934 through 1962 at the Iberia Livestock Experiment Station, Jeanerette, Louisiana, were studied to estimate heterosis, compare birth weights, weaning weights and weaning type scores of straightbred and crossbred calves and to estimate retained heterosis in inter se matings of initial crosses. Significant differences (P \u3c .01) were found between calves of Angus dams and Brangus and Brahman dams in birth weight (65.5 vs. 61.1 lbs) and weaning weight (417 vs. 449 lbs.) but not in weaning type (11.10 vs. 10.89). Also, calves of Brangus dams were significantly different (P \u3c .01) from Brahman dams in birth weight (64.9 vs. 57.3), but no differences were found in weaning weight (458 vs. 440) or type at weaning (10.88 vs. 10.90) of calves from these two kinds of dams. Angus-sired calves were significantly (P \u3c .01) different in birth weight (60,6 vs, 63,8) and weaning type (11.70 vs, 10.59) from Brangus and Brahman-sired calves. They were lower in birth weight (61 vs. 64 pounds) than Brangus-sired calves and higher (61 vs. 58 pounds) than Brahman-sired calves. No significant difference was found among these three kinds of sires with respect to weaning weight of their calves. There were no apparent differences between the birth weights of the straightbred calves and those of crossbred calves; however, the crossbreds were significantly (P \u3c .01) heavier at weaning (453 vs. 409 pounds). The crosses graded lower (P \u3c .05) than the straightbreds, although the average difference was small (10.91 vs. 11.04 where 1 equals 1/3 of a grade). Heterosis was significantly (P \u3c .01) greater in the first cross Angus X Brahman (including the reciprocal) than in the first cross Angus X Brangus (including the reciprocal) for both birth weight and weaning weight. It should be noted that calves out of Brahman cows and sired by Angus bulls were lighter at birth by 14 pounds but heavier by 8 pounds at weaning than calves from the reciprocal of this mating. The same effect was evident in the Angus-sired calves from Brangus cows. Inter se mated Brangus progeny averaged 64 pounds in birth weight, 448 pounds in weaning weight or 59 pounds above the average of the parental straightbreds and 6 pounds below the average of first crosses. These figures indicate a retention of about 90 percent of the heterotic effect after approximately two complete generations of inter se mating, when measured as the ratio of the deviation of these means above contemporaries of the breeds which formed the hybrid to the corresponding deviations of the first cross of the parental breeds. Inter se mated Africander-Angus progeny weighed 63 pounds at birth and 404 pounds at weaning and graded slightly lower at weaning than the average of all calves. These calves were similar in weight at weaning to Angus calves but graded somewhat lower. Progeny from Africander- Angus cows mated to Angus bulls were heaviest of the crosses including Africander or Africander-Angus at both birth and weaning (74 and 449 pounds) but graded lower by approximately one-third of a grade. When simple averages were used, the crosses to Angus and Brahman sires showed heterotic responses also. Africander-Angus females mated to Brahman sires had progeny which weighed 63 pounds at birth and 417 pounds at weaning and graded 11+ at weaning. A small group of Brahman cows bred to Africander males had calves weighing 66 pounds when born and 414 pounds at weaning, about the same as progeny from Africander-Angus cows mated to Brahman sires. These data indicate that crossbreeding and the increased weights at weaning time are advantageous to the producer. This is especially true for the producer of calves to be slaughtered at light weights in the Gulf Coast area for local consumption. The analyses showed significant heterosis in most crosses with the most pronounced effect in first crosses and a retention of an appreciable amount of heterosis by the second generation produced From inter se matings of crossbreds

Childcare Center Communication

For my capstone project, I worked with the College of Southern Idaho Early Learning Center to identify their teacher and parent communication needs and then researched and reviewed communication platforms to implement a new application that allows parents and the daycare to chart the progress of their children. And it allows parents to stay in contact with their children’s caregivers/teachers throughout the day. This helps parents be able to know what their children are doing while they are at work or school. I was also able to volunteer and help at the daycare in order to identify their needs regarding a total communication program. This was a wonderful experience because I was able to help improve the communication between parents and the childcare teachers and also spend time with the children

Staying the course :an investigation of undergraduate completion of online education /by Tracey J. Meyerhoeffer.

This study explored undergraduate student perceptions regarding successful completion of online general education courses. Specific influences that were examined included: course design, student designation (non-traditional/traditional), instructor teaching strategies, and gender. Guided by the qualitative research traditions of phenomenology and symbolic interactionism, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight undergraduate students taking online general education courses at a comprehensive community college located in a rural state. Interview data was gathered, analyzed, and presented as individual portraits of each study participant. Participants offered views concerning the influence course design and instructor teaching strategies had on their completion of online general education courses. Additionally, they described intrinsic elements, such as individual drive and motivation, which affected their completion of online general education courses. In sum, this study revealed differences between male/female and non-traditional/traditional perceptions toward completion of online general education courses. Furthermore, several course design features and instructional strategies that undergraduate students preferred were found, but study participants did not perceive these elements as essential for their completion of online general education courses. Instead, it was found that a strong sense of self-efficacy is what most significantly influenced undergraduate student completion of online general education courses. In an era of increased online education, this study provided insights regarding online course design, instructional strategies, advising, and online course pacing and informed online educators, instructional designers, administrators, and online policymakers regarding online instructional practices and structures at the undergraduate level. Recommendations for future research included continued exploration of issues related to undergraduate student online course completion.Thesis (Ph. D., Education)--University of Idaho, April 2009

Semen Characteristics and Behavior of Grazing Bulls as Influenced by Shade

The efficiency of shades to provide bulls relief from heat stress was studied during the summers of 1977 and 1978. The shades were constructed from steel pipe with expanded metal roof covered with baled straw. Ambient and blackbulk temperatures were more variable in 1977 than in 1978. No consistent influence of shade availability was observed in behavior of the bulls, though during 1978, less time was spent grazing by bulls with access to shade. During both years, standing time was greater (P<.10) by bulls without access to shade. Bulls made little use of the shades in August and September. In 1977, semen motility, movement rate, and percentage live sperm cells were greater (P<.10) from bulls provided shade. Bulls without shade showed a trend for higher numbers of aged acrosomes and abnormal sperm cells. General semen quality was lower in 1978, but no consistent effect of shade was noted, except that abnormal sperm cells were lower from bulls with access to shade. During both years, semen motility was decreased and percentage of abnormal sperm cells was increased 2- to 3-weeks after blackbulb temperatures approached 45 degrees C for several consecutive days.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202