Abstract
The present study was conducted using growth performance data on 624 Brahman cross (25%) calves collected from three villages adjacent to Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Growth performance data of 289 Brahman cross (50%) calves were also collected from record sheet maintained at 12 Upazila Livestock Offices under the "Beef breed development project" of Department of Livestock Services to compare performance between 25% and 50% Brahman cross calves. Growth performance traits were considered birth weight, weight at three-, six-, nine-, twelve-month of age, average daily gain from birth to twelve-month of age. Calving difficulties (dystocia) and calf mortality were also included in the study area. The birth weight, weight at three-, six-, nine- and twelve-month average daily gain for 25% Brahman cross calves were 19.79±0.20, 52.72±1.31, 86.61±2.02, 129.90±3.08, 172.60±3.48 kg and 426.00±4.99g, respectively. The average birth weight (21.40±0.24 kg) and twelve-month weight (229.62±2.08 kg) of 50% Brahman cross calves were significantly higher (p<0.05) than 25% Brahman cross calves. Average daily gain was significantly higher (570.52±5.19g) in 50% Brahman cross than 25% Brahman cross calves (529.98±4.54g). Birth weight, three-, six-, nine-, twelve-month weight were positively correlated to each other. Strong correlations were found between birth weight and three-month weight (0.65), between six- and nine-month (0.65).There was no report of calving difficulties or abnormal calf birth, where the average calf mortality rate was 2.96 in the study areas. It indicates that 50% Brahman cross calves were well performed in these climatic condition. However, further study with larger sample sizes covering more different management systems would be required to draw a better conclusion in this regard.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2016, 2(2): 259-265
Highlights
The cattle genetic resources (23.58 million, BER, 2015) of Bangladesh are mostly of indigenous type (Bos indicus) with substantial number of crossbreds with Sindhi, Sahiwal and Holstein-Friesian
Growth performances of 25% Brahman cross calves Growth performances of Brahman cross male calves were higher than those of female calves (Table 7)
The weight of this study was found much lower than the findings reported by Chen et al (2012) of Piedmontese and Nanyang as 194 kg, while the six-month weight of this study was found higher than that reported by Gaur et al (2003) and Carew et al (1986) which were 85.8 kg for crossbred and 71.4 kg for crossbred, respectively
Summary
The cattle genetic resources (23.58 million, BER, 2015) of Bangladesh are mostly of indigenous type (Bos indicus) with substantial number of crossbreds with Sindhi, Sahiwal and Holstein-Friesian. Indigenous cattle of the country are more disease resistant and capable to thrive in harsh condition (Majid et al, 1992). As there is no beef type animal in the country, the farmers are frequently being involved in fattening of either local or upgraded dairy crossed bull calves for increasing the beef production in Bangladesh. Considering weather, agro-climatic condition, heat tolerance, disease and parasites resistance, longevity, grazing ability, calving ease, mothering ability and management, Brahman breed is considered to be the most suitable and compatible beef breed in tropical and sub-tropical regions
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