Performance Evaluation of F1 Progeny of Beef Crossbreds with BLRI Cattle Breed-1

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Animal Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1341, Bangladesh.

2 Animal Health Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka-1341, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study aimed to produce market beef cattle with an average carcass weight of at least 150.0 kg by the age of 2 years (market age), utilizing on-farm feeding and management practices. To generate crossbred beef cattle, locally given name BLRI Cattle Breed 1 (BCB-1) cows were artificially inseminated using imported frozen semen from American Brahman, Australian adapted Simmental, Charolais, and Limousin breeds. The breeding and production results of crossbred cattle of various F1 genotypes compared to BCB-1 (control) were evaluated and compared. A total of 65 crossbreds of four types were considered in the research study, consisting of 32 males and 33 females. All F1 crossbreds outperformed BCB-1 in live weight across all ages, with the exception of the yearling age for both sexes. Nevertheless, significant disparities existed between the groups. Regarding live weight at birth, the Simmental cross male exhibited the highest live weight, succeeded by the Charolais, Limousin, Brahman crosses and BCB-1 crossbreds. The Simmental cross exhibited the greatest daily live weight gain (0.74±0.16) from birth to market age, succeeded by the Charolais, Limousin, Brahman crosses, and BCB-1. The growth rate in Simmental male-female crosses exceeded that of other crosses. Data were analyzed using a completely randomized design, ANOVA and the general linear model from the Agricolae" package in R. The purebred BCB-1 exhibited the highest feed conversion efficiency and the lowest dry matter intake in comparison to other crosses. Based on the present research it can be concluded that market beef cattle and thus synthetic beef breed(s) can be produced by using Simmental breed in Bangladesh.

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