Variation in pre-weaning growth rate of Bhagnari X droughtmaster calves
1999
Khan, M.A. (Livestock Production Research Inst., Bahadurnagar (Pakistan)) | Khan, M.S.
Variation in pre-weaning growth rate of Bhagnari and its crosses with Australian Droughtmaster cattle kept at Beef Production Research Centre, Sibi, Balochistan was examined in the present study. Data collected for birth weight and weaning weight on 1118 calves sired by 26 bulls were used to calculate pre-weaning growth rate. Calves averaged 24 +- 4 kg at birth and 111 +- 23 kg at weaning. Growth rate up to weaning was 414 +- 104 grams. Year of birth and sex of the calf had a significant effect on the growth rate (p.01). Season of birth and percentage of Droughtmaster inheritance were also an important source of variation (P.05). Heritability of the trait was only 2% indicating that all the variation in the trait was environmental and genetics had little role to play. Genetic correlation between pre-weaning growth rate and birth weight was also low (0.35) while with weaning weight correlation was high (0.84). Direct improvement in the trait has a limited scope but some improvement is possible by indirect selection for higher weaning weight.
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