Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.
2008
Volume 11
Issue 3
Topic:
Animal Husbandry
ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Przysucha T. , Grodzki H. 2008. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CALVING COURSE AND CALF BODY WEIGHT AT BIRTH AND CALF/COW BODY WEIGHT RATIO, EJPAU 11(3), #07.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume11/issue3/abs-07.html

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CALVING COURSE AND CALF BODY WEIGHT AT BIRTH AND CALF/COW BODY WEIGHT RATIO

Tomasz Przysucha1, Henryk Grodzki2
1 Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Poland
2 Faculty of Animal Science, Animal Breeding & Production Department, Cattle Breeding Division, University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Poland

 

ABSTRACT


The aim of the study was to estimate the
relationship between calving course and calf body weight at birth
and calf/cow body weight ratio for heifers and multiparous cows of the following
beef breeds: Angus, Hereford, Limousin and Charolais. Data concerning 22 989
deliveries (6838 heifers and 16 151 multiparous cows) of the above
mentioned breeds included calving course evaluation as well as information about
calving number, calf body weight at birth and its sex. Relationship between calving
course, breed, calving number, calf sex and calf body weight at birth (kg) and
calf/cow body weight ratio (%) was examined. The frequency of difficult calvings
depending on calf/cow body weight ratio was also investigated. The breed had
significant influence on both examined traits. Charolais calves were the heaviest
whereas the Limousin ones – the lightest. Calf/cow body weight ratio was as follow:
6.29% (LMS), 6.50% (AAG), 6.49% (CHL) and 6.74% (HEF). Calf body weight at birth
and calf/cow body weight ratio were influenced (P ≤0.01) by calving number
and calf sex. Highly significant relationships between calf body weight at birth,
calf/cow body weight ratio and calving course were observed. For all the breeds
the share of difficult calvings was higher when calf/cow body weight ratio increase.
Thus, calf/cow body weight ratio seems to be useful for calving course estimation
in breed comparisons.

Key words: beef breeds, calving course, calf/cow body weight ratio.


Tomasz Przysucha
Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Poland
Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warszawa, Poland
Phone/fax: 48 22 5936536
email: tomasz_przysucha@sggw.pl

Henryk Grodzki
Faculty of Animal Science,
Animal Breeding & Production Department,
Cattle Breeding Division,
University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Poland
Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warszawa, Poland
Phone/fax: 48 22 5936536

Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed 'Discussions' and hyperlinked to the article.