The genetic traits of a purebred bull convey the reproductive and economic value to buyers. This study examines and compares the value of actual production weights (birth, weaning, and yearling weight), production expected progeny differences (EPDs) (birth, weaning, milk, and yearling), and ultrasound EPDs (carcass quality predictors) for purebred Angus bulls sold at auction. One EPD, birth wei...

Total weaning weight is a function of pig quantity and quality. Pig quality can be associated with individual pig weights and survivability. As litter size increases, total weaning weight increases at a decreasing rate. As shown in Figure 1., larger litter sizes not only wean more weight, but also have higher preweaning mortality. Increased litter size has been associated with smaller, more fra...

The influence of medium-chain fatty acids (5% coconut oil) introduced in a starter diet (ALc) for 21 d after weaning was investigated in 230 Lacaune male lambs. They were weaned early, intensively fattened during winter and slaughtered at a constant live-weight (39 kg). Comparisons have been made regarding the individual growth rates and carcass qualities with an isocaloric and isonitrogenous r...

Five years of data were collected on 124 Brangus-type cows to evaluate weaning calves at 8.5 or 10.5 mo of age and winter supplementation of the brood cow with 2.25 kg of molasses daily. Cows with calves weaned at 10.5 mg of age gained 14 kg less weight (P less than .01) during the late nursing period than did cows from which calves were earlier weaned. Age of calf at weaning had no effect on c...

Genetic parameters for traits related to postweaning growth in Braunvieh cattle, reared under tropical and sub-tropical conditions in Brazil, were studied. Weight traits were weight at 365 days of age (W365, N = 4055), at 450 days (W450, N = 3453), and at 550 days (W550, N = 1946), while weight gains were gain from weaning to 365 days of age (WGW365, N = 3060), from weaning to 450 days (WGW450,...

Abstract The objective was to evaluate growth performance and estimates of body composition in offspring dams that consumed diets containing tall fescue seed with (E+) or without (E-) the toxic endophyte melatonin during mid-late gestation. Pregnant heifers (n = 57) artificially inseminated sex-sorted semen (X chromosome-bearing sperm) from a single Angus sire were administered dietary treatmen...

Genetic trends for weaning weight were evaluated in 15 purebred herds in the United States participating in the Angus Herd Improvement. Records production testing program. Regression techniques were used for separate estimates of sire and dam contributions that were summed to estimate total herd trend. Sire contributions, calculated as the pooled within sire regression of weaning weight ratio o...

An economic selection index was developed for Beefmaster cattle in a general-purpose production system in which bulls are mated to a combination of heifers and mature cows, with resulting progeny retained as replacements or sold at weaning. National average prices from 2010 to 2014 were used to establish income and expenses for the system. Genetic parameters were obtained from the literature. E...