Agricultural Research Center, Ona *
Research Report RC-73-6 May, 1973

PROGRESS REPORT ON PERFORMANCE OF CHAROLAIS, BRAHMAM,

ANGUS AND THEIR CROSSES FOR BEEF PRODUCTION

F. M. Peacock, M. Koger and E. M. Hodges


State project no. 1120 "Charolais, Brahman, Angus and their crosses

for beef production" is designed to evaluate the relative productivity of

these breeds under south Florida conditions.

This study utilizes the three breeds of cows plus their crosses.

Sires of each breed are bred to all straightbred and crossbred cows. This

design produces straightbreds, reciprocal Fl, backcross and three breed

cross calves.

Results for weaning weight, adjusted for age of dam and 205 days of

age, and weaning rate for 1972 are given in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.

Data presented are too limited to draw definite conclusions. How-

ever, there are indications of a fundamental behavior pattern. Crossbreeding

with Angus and Brahman improved performance over the straightbred parents.

The Charolais and Brahman cross outperformed their straightbred parents,

but the Charolais and Angus cross did not perform in the same relative

manner as the Brahman crosses.

The genetic environmental relationship of animals determine their

performance. Selection of breeds relative to the environment is necessary

in crossbreeding as well as straightbreeding to maximize benefits.


HUME LIBRARY

JUN 20 1973


I.F.A.S. Univ. of Florida




4 *


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Table 1. Weaning Weight of Charolais, Brahman, Angus and their Crosses
Adjusted for Age of Dam and 205 Days of Age, pounds.


Breed Breed of Dam
of
Sire A B Ch Ax B Ax Ch Ch xB

Angus 406 461 513 472 444 471

Brahman 477 417 542 502 .501 497

Charolais 461 537 529 525 500 554


Table 2. Weaning Rate of Charolais, Brahman, Angus and their Crosses, percent.


Breed Breed of Dam
of
Sire A B Ch Ax B A x Ch Ch x B

Angus 64 92 83 92 67 83

Brahman 85 83 92 85 92 79

Charolais 75 100 82 92 91 80


RC-73-6
5/10/73


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