Gestation Length and Birth Weight in Cattle and Buffaloes: A Review1,2

Abstract

The present review of literature summarizes in table form the available information about gestation length and birth weight in cattle and buffaloes. Both gestation length and birth weight vary greatly among breeds. In cattle, Aberdeen Angus seem to have the shortest gestation length (273 days) and Brown Swiss the longest (292 days), whereas buffaloes have gestation lengths of over 300 days. Younger cows generally have calves of lighter weight, whereas the evidence of the influnce of age on length of gestation is more divided. In almost all cases male calves are heavier than female calves, but sex of the calf has been found to have less or, in some cases, no influence on length of gestation. Most of the heritability estimates for gestation length vary from 0.25 to 0.50, whereas the heritability of birth weight is somewhat lower. There is a positive relationship between gestation length and birth weight.