Results from various straight- and crossbreeding trials conducted in South Africa were reviewed.  The conclusion is drawn that in some instances, initial crossbreeding followed by inter se mating of crossbred cattle give the same if not better results than continued crossbreeding.  This facilitates rangeland improvement as it limits the number of pastures needed during the breeding season

Coertze, R. J.

Van Zyl, J. G. E.

Venter, H. A. W.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 3rd World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Animal Science Department 1986 Evaluation of Straight- and Crossbreeding in Beef Cattle in the R.S.A. H. A. W. Venter University of Pretoria J. G. E. Van Zyl University of Pretoria R. J. Coertze University of Pretoria Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/wcgalp  Part of the Animal Sciences Commons Venter, H. A. W.; Van Zyl, J. G. E.; and Coertze, R. J., "Evaluation of Straight- and Crossbreeding in Beef Cattle in the R.S.A." (1986). 3rd World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. 34. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/wcgalp/34 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in 3rd World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. EVALUATION OF SYSTEMS OF STRAIHGT- AND CROSSBREEDIHG IN BEEF CATTLE IN THE R.S.A. * * H.A. W. VENTER, J .G .E. VAN ZYL and R.J. COERTZE , SOUTH P .O. Box 971, Bronkhorstspruit, 1020, R.S.A. *Dept. Animal Science, University of Pretoria, Hillcrest 0083, R.S.A. SUMMARY Results from various straight- and crossbreeding trials South Africa were reviewed. The conclusion is drawn that in instances, initial crossbreeding followed by inter ~ matin, crossbred cattle give the same if not better results than crossbreeding. This facilitates rangeland improvement as it number of pastures needed during the breeding season. INTRODUCTION Crossbreeding is known to improve lowly heritable, but, ~~"'~~I~ important traits (Stonaker, 1973) such as adaptability, milk production (Bonsma, 1973; Venter, 1977; Venter & Crossbreeding programmes utilizing maximum heterosis can complicated and difficult to manage for ranchers, especially rangeland management is of high priority. The question ari ... crossbreeding, followed by inter se mating of crossbred cattle coupled with selection and performance testing, cannot nrAa •• __ heterosis and simplify management. The Bonsmara breed was such a way (Bonsma 1983) and as performance testing was its inception, such trends could be evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS Different straight- and crossbreeding results (Lombard, 1977; Venter, 1977, Paterson, Venter and Harwin, 1980, Coertze, unpublished) have been analyzed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Reproduction: Africander and Africander types are the most populous in Soutb and show good mothering ability. However, they, and probably Zebu types are subject to lowered reproduction rates and anestrus (Marincowitz, 1978). Table 1 illustrates the influ~ type on production (Mentz, 1977) . Liveweight at partus and liveweight changes (Table 2) to the ... breeding season are important factors determining reconceptiOD (Steenkamp, Van der Horst & Andrew, 1975; Venter, 1977). 'or reproductive performance of Africander crosses is evident The supe~~althOUgh the near absence of dystocia in Brahman crossbred (Table! this particular cross preferable under that specific co~s ~ es In this study however, some Brahman bulls caused a higher d·uons . con'd1ence of dystocia. inC1 . and early post-weaning mass; ~(4) illustrates the influence of breed of sire and dam type on Tabl?n performance under intensive (Paterson et al. 1980), ~a~l.gtensive (Lombard, 1971) and extensive (Venter, 1977 and Van Zy1, seDl1-1n 1982) conditions . d extensive conditions, Brahman x Africander and Simmental x Un ?r nder were superior to other crosses in kilogram weaner/hectare, Afr1~a adaptability, increased milk production and low incidence of dUet °cia (Table 1). Under intensive conditions, Charolais bulls with dys 0 • f imm ntal cows showed super~or per ormance, although the dual purpose ~DP)e which was an inter se bred population, compared favourably as a d iine (table 4). The relative performance of four breeds under ~ensive conditions (table 4) show that the synthetic (Bonsmara) eXmpare favourably with crossbreds and Simmentals. Bonsmara calves C~en reached higher weaning masses than crossbreds under intensive eonditions. The superior performance of crossbred sired calves to ~hree-breed crosses (Table 4) supports the idea that inter se matings of crossbreds can be advantageous. Although selected crossbred bulls performed significantly (P < 0,05) better than purebred Bonsmaras under growth test conditions, the actual differences were relatively small (Table 3). The superior performance of simmental and Brahman crosses (Table 1) indicate that these types can be valuable in producing adapted, high producing cows where unfavourable environmental conditions limits beef production, and is in agreement with the results obtained in Australia (Frisch, 1976) . CONCLUSIONS Crossbred cattle normally perform better than purebreds, but synthetics eg. the Bonsmara breed, created especially for certain environments, are able to at least match the performance of crossbreds. Brahman and Simmental crosses perform best under extensive conditions and may be utilized in a composite breeding programme. The role of indigenous African types eg o the Nguni in such composite breeding programmes, demands further investigation. late: The authors gratefully acknowledge information supplied by Coromandel Farms. REFERENCES BOISHA, J.C. 1973. Crossbreeding for adaptability. Ch. 37 in: Crossbreeding beef cattle series 2. Ed. Koger, CUnha and Warnick. University of Florida Press. '2'27 BONSHA , J .C. 1983 . Livestock Production AGI Books, Cody, FRISCH, J.E . 1976. A model of reasons for bree? differences of cattle in the tropics . Proc . Austr . Soc. ~. Prod. 11 , LOMBARD, J .H. 1971 . Genetic and environmental factors aff production of beef cattle in the highland sourveld areas ect~ (Agric)-thesis, University of Pretoria. . D·Se HARINCOWITZ, G. 1982. Dragtigheidspersentasies van Soutpan Grootveeplaas. ~ . Afr . ~ . Anim . Sci. 8, HENTZ, A. 1977. Afrikanerbeeste. Produksiepotensiaal van verskillende Ph . D. thesis, University of the Orange PATERSON, A.G . , VENTER, H.A.W., & HARWIN, G.O. 1980. Prewean4 __ of British, Bos Indicus, Charo1ais and type-' intensive pasture conditions . ~. Afr . STEENKAKP, J.D . G. , VAN DER HORST, C. & ANDREW, H.J.A. Reconception in grade and pedigree Africander cows of postpartum factors influencing reconception . ~. Afr. 103-110. STONAKER, H.H. 1973 . Genetic principles in improving beef breeds in crossbreeding . Ch. 2 in: Crossbreeding beef cattl. 2. Ed. Koger, Cimba and Warnick. University of Florida Presi. VAN ZYL, J.G.E. 1982. 'n Evaluasie van die doeltreffendheid en seleksiemetodes soos toegepas deur die Bonsmarabeeste~81'BI'''. skap. H. Sc (Agric) - thesis, University of Pretoria . VENTER, H. A.W. 1977 . Die doe1treffendheid van voorspeense sekere vleis, dubbeldoel- en kruisrasse in die Soetbosveld . D.Sc (Agric) - thesis, University of Pretoria. VENTER, H. A.W. & HAREE, C. 1978 . Recent studies on the reproduction in Cattle in Southern Africa. Biometeorogical 1 1973 - 1978. Part B. Animal Biometeorology, 77 - 89. The relative production potential of purebred and table 1 crossbred Africander cows on a 1 000 ha farm (Mentz, 1977) . ---African- Brahman Charo1ais Hereford simmental der x x x x African- Africander African- African-der der der --stocking of rate (no cOWS on 92,3 86,8 77 ,8 84,0 84,4 lOOOha) ~ cows that 93,4 calved 62,9 92,4 86,2 92,0 ~ normal births (with-81,0 100 85,7 83,0 90,5 out dystocia) ~ calves pro-duced (with-92,4 73,9 76,4 84,5 out dystocia) 50,9 iveloage wea-ning mass/ cdf (kg) 169,3 186,9 198,2 185,8 202,0 Total wea-ning mass/ herd (kg) 7954 14990 11395 11924 14406 Weaning .. ss/ha (kg) 7,5 14,99 11,40 11,92 14,41 aelative yiald 100 189 143 150 181 339 Table 4 Weaning mass by sire breed and dam tYPe Author Sire Dam Weaning mass venter, 1977 A A 189,10 ± 2,55 H H 179,15 ± 2,70 BO Bo 216,15 ± 2,54 S S 212,25 ± 2,62 Lombard, 1971 H AxSH 212,30 ± 1,58 DP AxSH 213,76 ± 2,07 A AxSH 187,98 ± 3,62 CB AxSH 218,56 ± 2,04 Paterson et al, C British 207 1980 Bos indicus 209 C 208 S 219 DP 207 H British 180 Bos indicus 188 C 188 S 189 DP 186 S British 201 Bos indicus 202 C 215 S 204 DP 204 Van Zyl, 1982* BO BO 186,68 ± 3,14 BO 194,85 ± 2,37 BO 200,19 ± 1,89 BO 199,47 ± 14,96 BO 179,70 ± 4,98 * Different herds A = Africander; BO Bonsmara; C = Chaolais; CB = Crossbred; DP = Dual purpose (Inter se); H = Hereford; S = Sitmllental. 340 table 2 ---II~ ---Africander lllreford JIOIIIIIIB r a s~ntal table 3 llreed*** IIoI\ftI8ra croubred , Difference Livemass of productive cows of different breeds (Venter, 1977) Calving Beginning End of Weaning Difference N breeding breeding (Weaning-season season Calving) 175 411,56 414,76 456,01 458,31 44,45 ± 3,98 ± 4,27 ± 4,41 ± 4,80 148 385,56 393,85 445,22 450,22 64,66 ± 4,52 ± 4,85 ± 5,01 ± 5,45 197 434,81 434,89 479,48 482,88 48,07 ± 3,49 ± 3,74 ± 3,87 ± 4,21 162 418,67 413,93 463,44 471,38 52,71 ± 3,87 ± 4,16 ± 4,29 ± 4,67 Weaning and early postweaning performance of Bonsmara and crossbred bulls (Coromandel Farms, unpublished). N 12 28 Weaning mass 222,42 ± 5,50 242,57 ± 4,09 9'" ADG* (g ± SE) 1284 ± 66,88 1387 ± 37,33 8'" ADA** (g ± SE) 990,83 ± 37,10 1039,79 ± 16,13 5'" * Average daily gain ** Average daily gain per day of age *** Crossbreds selected out of 200 male calves. Bonsmaras no selection. 

Evaluation of Straight- and Crossbreeding in Beef Cattle in the R.S.A.

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Evaluation of Straight- and Crossbreeding in Beef Cattle in the R.S.A.

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