Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange
Abstract
Individual feed intake was measured in drylot on first-calf females for a 1-year period through weaning of their first calf. Dam breeds included crossbred Simmental-Hereford, Angus-Hereford, Salers-Hereford and Tarentaise-Hereford produced in two-breed rotations and straightbred Hereford. Cow weights were heaviest for Simmental-Hereford and lowest for Tarentaise-Hereford and straightbred Hereford. Calf weaning weights were heaviest for Simmental-Hereford and Lightest for straightbred Hereford and Angus-Hereford. Intake of cow feed TDN was highest for Simmental-Hereford cows and Lowest for Tarentaise-Hereford and straightbred Hereford. Breed group rankings for total cow feed and calf creep feed TDN intake were the same as rankings for cow TDN intake. Efficiency of feed utilization was calculated as total TDN consumed by the cow and calf during the year divided by calf weaning weight. Breed group averages for efficiency ranged from 12.8 lb. TDN/lb. calf weaning weight for Tarentaise-Hereford to 13.8 lb. TDN/lb. calf weaning weight for Angus-Hereford. A Large amount of variation among individual cows for the efficiency ratio was noted. These results indicate some differences among breed types for efficiency of feed utilization for first calf production, although variation among individuals was also important
