Characterization of Biological Types of Cattle IV- Postweaning Growth and Puberty of Heifers

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D. B. Laster, Gerald M. Smith and Keith E. Gregory

Growth and Puberty of HeifersCharacterization of Biological Types of Cattle IV. Postweaning

1976. 43:63-70.J Anim Sci

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C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N O F B IO L O G I C A L T YP E S O F C A T T L EIV . P O S T W E A N IN G G R O W T H A N D P U B E R T Y O F H E I F E R S 1

D. B. Laster, Gerald M. Smith and Keith E. Gregory2U .& D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u lt u r e , C l a y C en t er , N e b r a s k a 6 8 9 3 3

S U M M A R YPostweaning growth and puberty traits were

studied in 965 heifers produced by matingHereford and Angus cows to Hereford, Angus,Jersey, South Devon, Limousin, Charolais andSimmental sires. Estrus was checked twice dailyfrom 250 to either 480 or 510 days of age andage and weight at puberty were evaluated.Puberty was defined as date of first standingestrus.

Charolais, Simmental and South Devoncrosses were the heaviest at 400 days of agefollowed closely by Hereford-Angus andLimousin crosses with Jersey crosses thelightest. Jersey crosses were 16% lighter thanCharolais and 8.7% lighter than Limousincrosses at 400 days of age.

For percentage of heifers reaching pubertyat each 30-day period from 300 to 450 days ofage, breed crosses separated into three distinctgroups. A higher percentage of Jersey crossesand a lower percentage of Charolais and Limou-sin crosses reached puberty with Hereford-Angus, South Devon and Simmental crossesintermediate t hroughou t this age range. Breedcrosses divided into the same three groups onthe basis of average age at puberty. Charolaiscrosses were heaviest at puberty, followed byLimousin and Simmental, then South Devonand Hereford-Angus, with Jersey crosses thelightest.Heifers from Angus dams were 26 daysyounger and 9 kg lighter at puberty than thosefrom Hereford dams. Heterosis in Hereford-Angus reciprocal crosses for age at puberty was19.5 days with no effect on weight at puberty.(Key Words: Cattle, Breeds, Puberty, Repro-duction, Growth.)

Cooperation of the Nebraska Agricultural Experi-ment Station, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, isacknowledged.2U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, AfldculturalResearch Service.63

I N T R O D U C T I O NPuberty traits in beef cattle are important

criteria for evaluating the utilization of breedsfor different beef production systems. Pubertyhas been studied in several domestic breeds(Reynolds et al . , 1963; Wiltbank et al . , 1966;Piasse et al . , 1968) and the literature onproduction traits in breeds of Western Europewas summarized by Mason (1971), but littleinformation is available on puberty and preg-nancy in domestic and Western Europeanbreeds evaluated under similar managementconditions.This study i n v o l v e d evaluation of growthand puberty in different biological types ofbeef cattle, represented by breed groups varyingin growth rate, mature size and lactationpotential; and an examination of the relation-ships of growth, puberty and pregnancy inthese different breed groups.

M A T E R I A L S A N D M E T H O D SThis study involved 945 female calves pro-

duced in the cattle germ plasm evaluationprogram at the U.S . Meat Animal ResearchCenter. The experimental design of this pro-gram was given previously by Smith e t a l .(1976b). The program involved breeding Here-ford and Angus cows to sires of the Hereford,Angus, Jersey, South Devon, Limousin, Charo-lais and Simmental breeds. Three calf cropswere born in March, April and May of 1970,1971 and 1972. Heifers were weaned in Octo-ber or November at an average of 217 days ofage.Following weaning, heifers were randomizedby breed group to five feedlot pens (all breedgroups represented in each pen) and fed a dl i b i t u m a ration consisting of approximately50% corn silage and 50% grass haylage withadequate supplemental protein and minerals tomeet N.R.C. requirements. Heifers were bredby artificial insemination (AI) for 42 to 45 daysfollowed by 21 to 25 days of natural mating.

JOURNAL OF ANIMALSCIENCE, Vol. 43, No. 1, 1976

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6 4 L A S T E R , S M I T H A N D G R E G O R YA v e r a g e a g e w a s 4 3 0 d a y s a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o fA I b r e e d i n g . E s t r u s w a s c h e c k e d v i s u a l l y t w i c ed a i l y f r o m a n a v e r a g e o f 2 5 0 d a y s o f a g e t o t h ee n d o f t h e n a t u r a l b r e e d i n g p e r i o d , e x c e p te s t r u s w a s d e t e r m i n e d o n l y t o t h e e n d o f t h e A Ib r e e d i n g p e r i o d i n c a l v e s b o r n i n 1 9 7 0 . H e i f e r st h a t c a l v e d w e r e c l a s s i f i e d a s p r e g n a n t a n dt h o s e t h a t d i d n o t c a l v e w e r e c l a s s i f i e d a sn o n - p r e g n a n t . B o d y w e i g h t s w e r e t a k e n a t2 8 - d a y i n t e r v a l s f r o m w e a n i n g t o b e g i n n i n g o fA I b r e e d i n g , a t t h e e n d o f A I b r e e d i n g a n d a ta p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 5 0 d a y s o f a g e .

P u b e r t y a g e w a s d e f i n e d a s t h e a g e a t f i r s to b s e r v e d , s t a n d i n g e s t r u s . W e i g h t a t p u b e r t yw a s c a l c u l a t e d b y a d d i n g w e a n i n g w e i g h t t op o s t w e a n i n g A D G t i m e s d a y s f r o m w e a n i n g t op u b e r t y . A d j u s t e d v a l u e s w e r e d e t e r m i n e d f o ra g e a n d w e i g h t a t p u b e r t y f o r e a c h b r e e d g r o u p ,b e c a u s e e s t r u s w a s n o t o b s e r v e d i n a l l a n i m a l so f e a c h b r e e d g r o u p c a u s i n g t h e o b s e r v e d v a l u e st o b e b i a s e d d o w n w a r d . T h i s a d j u s t m e n t r e -m o v e s t h e b i a s i n t h e o v e r a l l m e a n a n d a l l o w su n b i a s e d c o m p a r i s o n s o f b r e e d g r o u p s d i f f e r i n gi n p e r c e n t a g e o b s e r v e d i n e s t r u s ( D i c k e r s o n a n dH a z e l , 1 9 4 4 ; D i c k e r s o n a n d L a s t e r , 1 9 7 5 ) .

R e l a t iv e g r o w t h r a te ( R G R ) a s p r e s e n t e d i nt h i s s t u d y i s r a t e o f g r o w t h r e l a t i v e t o i n s t a n t a -n e o u s s i z e a n d i s a p p r o x i m a t e d b y t h e d i f f e r -e n c e b e t w e e n t h e n a t u r a l l o g a r i t h m o f t w ow e i g h t s d i v i d e d b y t h e l e n g t h o f t h e t i m ei n t e r v a l ( F i t z h u g h a n d T a y l o r , 1 9 7 1 ) . R e l a t i v eg r o w t h r a te i n th i s s t u d y i s e q u a l t o t h e p e r c e n tc h a n g e i n b o d y w e i g h t p e r d a y .

W e i g h t - a g e c u r v e s w e r e d e t e r m i n e d b y q u a -d r a ti c r e g r e s s io n o f b r e e d g r o u p m e a n s f o r e a c h2 8 - d a y w e i g h t o n d a y s f e d s e p a r a t e l y f o r e a c hb r e e d g r o u p a n d y e a r . C o r r e c t e d s u m s o fs q u a r e s a n d p r o d u c t s w e r e p o o l e d o v e r t h e 3y e a r s t o o b t a i n b r e e d g r o u p r e g r e s s i o n s . T h ep e r c e n t a g e r e a c h in g p u b e r t y b y v a r i o u s a g e sw a s p l o t t e d a g a i n s t w e i g h t s f r o m t h e w e i g h t - a g ec u r v e s t o o b t a i n p e r c e n t p u b e r t y - w e i g h t c u r v e sf o r e a c h b r e e d g r o u p ; t h u s , a c c o u n t i n g o n l y f o ra g e c h a n g e i n l i v e w e i g h t ( D i c k e r s o n e t a l . ,1 9 7 4 ) .

D a t a w e r e a n a l y z e d b y l e a s t s q u a r e s , m i x e dm o d e l p r o c e d u r e s d e s c r i b e d b y H a r v e y ( 1 9 7 2 ) .T h e m o d e l f o r a l l g r o w t h a n d p u b e r t y t r a i t si n c l u d e d t h e f i x e d e f f e c t s o f s ir e b r e e d , d a mb r e e d , d a m a g e a n d a l l t w o - w a y i n t e r a c t i o n sb e t w e e n t h e s e e f f e c t s . Y e a r w i t h i n s i r e b r e e da n d s i r e s w i t h i n y e a r w i t h i n s i r e b r e e d w e r ei n c l u d e d a s r a n d o m e f f e c t s w i t h t h e si r e w i t h i ny e a r w i t h i n s i r e b r e e d m e a n s q u a r e u s e d t o t e s tf o r s i r e b r e e d d i f f e r e n c e s a n d t h e r e s i d u a l m e a n

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Z 5 y e a r - o ld - d a m s , r e s p e c ti v e ly .

H e te ros i s . I t h a s b e e n r e p o r t e d p r e v i o u s l yt h a t h e t e r o s i s a f f e c t s p u b e r t y a g e ( W i l t b a n k e tal., 1 9 6 6 ) . I n t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y , p u b e r t y a g ewas 1 9 .5 d ay s ea r l i e r (P< .0 5 ) i n t h e Here fo rd -An g u s c ro sses t h an t h e av e rag e fo r t h e s t ra ig h t -b r e d s ( t a b l e 3 ) . I n t h e s t u d y b y W i l t b a n k e t al .( ! 9 6 6 ) h e t e r o s is e f f e c t s f o r a ge a t p u b e r t y w e r e4 1 d ay s fo r h e i fe r s fed o n a l o w win t e r i n g l ev e lan d 3 5 d ay s fo r t h o se fed o n a h ig h win t e r i n gl ev e l su g g es t i n g t h a t g ro wth ra t e i n f l u en ces t h ee s t i m a t e o f h e t e r o s i s f o r p u b e r t y a g e . H e t e r o s i sh a d l i t t l e e f f e c t o n w e i g h t a t p u b e r t y ( t a b l e 3 ) .P r e g n a n c y

T h e r e w a s n o s i g n i f i c a n t ( P > . O 1 ) e f f e c t o fs i r e b r e e d o n p r e g n a n c y p e r c e n t a g e . T h e o n l y

f a c t o r s e v a l u a t e d w h i c h s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t e dp r e g n a n c y w e r e s i r e - b r e e d b y d a m - b r e e d( P < . 0 1 ) a n d d a m - b r e e d b y d a m - a g e ( P < . 0 5 )in t e rac t i o n s . P reg n an cy p e rcen t ag es were h ig h e rf o r L i m o u s i n , C h a r o l a i s a n d S i m m e n t a l c r o s s e sf r o m A n g u s d a m s t h a n f r o m H e r e f o r d d a m s ,wh i l e i n Je r sey an d So u th Dev o n c ro sses p reg -n a n c y p e r c e n t a g e s w e r e i n f a v o r o f H e r e f o r dd ams . Th i s su g g es t s t h a t h e t e ro s i s e f fec t s co u ldb e g r e a t e r w i t h H e r e f o r d s t h a n A n g u s w h e nc r o s s e d w i t h B r i t i s h b r e e d s t h a n w h e n c r o s s e dw i t h L i m o u s i n , C h a r ol a is a n d S i m m e n t a l b re e d so r t h a t t h e h e i fe r s s ired b y t h e l a rg e r s i re b reed sh a d a h i g h e r g r o w t h p o t e n t i a l ; t h u s , e n a b l i n gt h e m t o u t i l i z e t h e h i g h e r m i l k p r o d u c t i o n o ft h e A n g u s d a m s w i t h o u t t h e d e t r i m e n t o fex cess fa t t en in g .

Preg n an cy p e rcen t ag e i n c reased i n h e i fe r sf r o m H e r e f o r d d a m s a s d a m a g e i n c r e a s e d f r o m2 to 4 y ea rs o f ag e , b u t was h ig h e r i n h e i fe r sf r o m 2 - a n d 3 - y e a r -o l d A n g u s d a m s th a n i nt h o s e f r o m A n g u s d a m s 4 a n d I >5 y e a r s o f a g e .P r e g n a n c y p e r c e n t a g e s w e r e 7 6 , 8 2 , 9 0 a n d 8 8for he i fers f rom 2- , 3 - , 4 - and >~5-year-o ldHere fo rd d ams an d 8 9 , 9 0 , 8 1 an d 8 2 fo r 2 - , 3 - ,4 - an d ~>5 -y ea r -o td An g u s d ams acco u n t in g fo rt h e s i g n i f i c a n t d a m - b r e e d b y d a m - a g e i n t e r a c -t i o n . I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h e p r e g n a n c y p e r c e n t -a g e s w e r e s i m i l a r f o r h e i f e r s f r o m H e r e f o r dd a m s 4 a n d 5 y e a r s o r o l d e r t o t h o s e f r o m 2 -an d 3 -y ea r -o ld An g u s d ams . On e p o ss ib l e ex p l a -



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70 LASTER, SMITH AND GREGORYnation is that under the conditions of thisstudy, higher levels of milk production inHereford dams associated with increased ageincreased reproductive performance and that amilk production level above that produced by3-year-old Angus dams tended to decreasepregnancy percentage in their progeny whenbred as yearlings. Cundiff e t a l . (1974) reportedthat heifers produced from Hereford cows andAngus sires had a higher (8.1 -+ 4.1%) pregnancypercentage at the end of breeding than thosefrom Angus cows and Hereford sires. It appearsthat part of the reason for the lower pregnancypercentage for heifers from 2- and 3-year-oldHereford dams may have been the lower per-centage of heifers from these ages of damreaching puberty; however, this was not thereason for the lower pregnancy percentage inheifers from older Angus dams. Percentage ofheifers reaching puberty by 510 days of agewere 90, 92, 98 and 95 from 2-, 3-, 4-and~>5-year-old Hereford dams and 100, 100, 94and 99 for heifers from comparable ages ofAngus dams. Preweaning average daily gains forheifers from 2-, 3-, 4- and ~5-year-old Here-ford dams were .65, .74, .80 and .83 kg and.70, .79, .83 and .88 kg for heifers from 2-, 3-,4- and ~>5-year-old Angus dams. Results fromboth this study and the one by Cundiff e t a l .(1974) indicate that preweaning maternal per-formance affects subsequent reproductiveperformance of offspring and that there is anoptimum preweaning growth rate of optimumbreeding performance of yearlings.

L I T E R A T U R E C I T E DCundiff, L. V., K. E. Gregory and R. M. Koch. 1974.Effects of heterosis on reproduction in Hereford,

Angus and Shorthorn cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 38:711.Dickerson, G. E. and L. N. Hazel. 1944. Effectivenessof selection on progeny performance as a supple-ment to earlier culling livestock. J. Agr . Res.69:459.Dickerson, G. E., Niklaus Kunzi, L. V. Cundiff, R. M.Koch, V. H. Arthaud and K. E. Gregory. 1974.Selection criteria for efficient beef production. J.Anim. Sci. 39:659.Dickerson, G. E. and D. B. Laster. 1975 . Breed,heterosis and environmental influences on pubertyin ewe lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 41 : 1- 9.Fitzhugh, H. A., Jr. and St. C. S. Taylor. 1971.Genetic analysis of degree of maturity. J. Anim.Sci. 33:717.Harvey, W. R. 1972. Program write-up for leastsquares and maximum likelihood general purposeprogram. The Ohio State University (Mimeo.).Koch, R. M., M. E. Dikeman, D. M. Allen, M. May, J.D. Crouse and D. R. Campion. 1976. Characteriza-tion of biological types of cattle. I I1. Carcasscomposition, quality and palatability of steers. J.Anim. Sci. (Submitted).Mason, I. L. 1971. Comparative beef performance ofthe large cattle breeds of Western Europe. Anim.Breed. Abstr. 39:1.Plasse, D., A. C. Warnick and M. Koger. 1968.Reproductive behavior of b o s i n d i c u s females in asubtropical environment. I. Puberty and ovulationfrequency in Brahman and Brahman Britishheifers. J. Anim. Sci. 27:94.Reynolds, W. L., T. M. DeRouen and J. W. High, Jr.1 9 6 3 . The age and weight at puberty of Angus,Brahman and Zebu cross heifers. J. Anim. Sci.22:243 (Abstr.).Smith, G. M., D. B. Laster, L. V. Cundiff and K. E.Gregory. 1976a. Characterization of biologicaltypes of cattle. IL Postweaning growth and feedefficiency of steers. J. Anim. Sci. 43:0000.Smith, G. M., D. B. Laster and K. E. Gregory. 1976b.Characterization of biological types of cattle. I.Dystocia and preweaning growth. J. Anita. Sci.43: 0000.Wiltbank, J. N., K. E. Gregory, L. A. Swiger, J. E.Ingalls, J. A. Rothlisberger and R. M. Koch. 1 9 6 6 .Effects of heterosis on age and weight at pubertyin beef heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 25:744.



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Characterization of Biological Types of Cattle IV- Postweaning Growth and Puberty of Heifers