Monitoring the live weight of Hereford breeding cattle under pasture conditions

Abstract

Assessing the growth potential and sustainability of breeding stock productivity makes it possible to predict effective herd management, including the duration of use of cows, significantly affecting the potential economic efficiency of raising young animals. The object of the study was data on live weight and average daily gain of Hereford cows and heifers. An assessment was made of Hereford cows’ live weight and growth rate and replacement young cattle of different years of birth, bred under conditions of year-round keeping on pasture. Assessing the growth potential of animals forming a herd for more than 15 years allows us to evaluate the trends that have led to current productivity. Keeping animals on pasture all year round, on the one hand, allows for the formation of animal resistance to environmental conditions; on the other hand, there is a tendency for the year of birth to influence the productive performance of animals, especially at the stage of raising them as replacement young animals. Still, these differences are smoothed out in the future, which today allows us to have a herd equalized by live weight. A significant influence of cows ’ birth year on their growth rates has been established. The study aimed to assess the live weight and growth rate of Hereford cows and young animals from the breeding herd, born in different years. The study’s objectives included evaluating the final weight of animals in the herd and assessing their live weight and average daily gain at the selection stage at the age of 15 months.