Abstract
Over a five-year period (1985-1989), a total of 239 bull calves (Angus=119, Hereford=120) were weaned and placed on summer pasture or fed grain concentrate in a feedlot for purpose of studying growth rate of body weight, hip height, and scrotal circumference over 189 days. Average daily gain [ADG, (final wt - weaning wt) / days in period] has been the standard measure of gwwth. However, this does not address how well a particular bull might have performed. ADG values were ranked at each measurement period (0, 21,49,77, 105, 133,161 and 189 days after weaning), changes in rank were determined for each bull, and the data analyzed. Bulls with higher genetic potential and those on the grain-fed diet showed positive rank changes over the 189 days. It was concluded that rank changes would be the best measure of superior growth for future breeding purposes. It ,vas discovered that a bull, poorly prepared (genetic or environmental) prior to weaning, could overcome this if placed on the grain-fed diet.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Mullinix, Benjamin G.; Neville, Walter E.; and Baker, Jerry F.
(2003).
"EFFECT OF GENETIC POTENTIAL AND FEED ON GROWTH OF YOUNG BULLS FOR FUTURE BREEDING,"
Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture.
https://doi.org/10.4148/2475-7772.1178
EFFECT OF GENETIC POTENTIAL AND FEED ON GROWTH OF YOUNG BULLS FOR FUTURE BREEDING
Over a five-year period (1985-1989), a total of 239 bull calves (Angus=119, Hereford=120) were weaned and placed on summer pasture or fed grain concentrate in a feedlot for purpose of studying growth rate of body weight, hip height, and scrotal circumference over 189 days. Average daily gain [ADG, (final wt - weaning wt) / days in period] has been the standard measure of gwwth. However, this does not address how well a particular bull might have performed. ADG values were ranked at each measurement period (0, 21,49,77, 105, 133,161 and 189 days after weaning), changes in rank were determined for each bull, and the data analyzed. Bulls with higher genetic potential and those on the grain-fed diet showed positive rank changes over the 189 days. It was concluded that rank changes would be the best measure of superior growth for future breeding purposes. It ,vas discovered that a bull, poorly prepared (genetic or environmental) prior to weaning, could overcome this if placed on the grain-fed diet.
