Aberdeen Angus Breed Research Articles

Hip dysplasia in beef cattle.

A bilateral hip lameness has been found in young beef bulls of the Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Galloway and Charolais breeds in the United Kingdom, North America and Australia. The incidence is usually small and sporadic, but up to half of the male animals on one farm may be affected clinically by the time they are one year old. Clinical lameness begins at three months to two years old, and very occasionally up to three years of age; some calves are obviously affected at birth. Aberdeen Angus cattle tend to be affected earlier than other breeds. Clinical evidence of the condition is almost entirely confined to the male.

Breed and Sex Differences in the Age of Appearance of the Bovine Central Incisor Teeth

Data were examined from a cross-sectional survey of cattle between 15 and 27 months of age to determine the presence or absence of emergence of the central incisor teeth. Bulls, steers and heifers of the Friesian, Aberdeen Angus and Hereford breeds were studied. A mathematical model was produced. Permanent central incisor emergence was about seven and a half weeks later in Hereford than either Friesian or Aberdeen Angus cattle. Heifers appeared to be about a month later in eruption of their permanent teeth than male cattle. It would also seem that 90% of teeth erupted within a five month period.

Blood Values in Cows: Leucocytes

Absolute and differential leucocyte counts were made on cows, (over 2½ years old) of Charolais, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Jersey, Friesian and Shorthorn breeds. There were wide variations among individuals and the published criteria for the assessment of enzootic bovine leucosis, based on absolute lymphocyte values, did not seem to be applicable to the cattle in this investigation. Total leucocyte and lymphocyte values were significantly higher in Hereford and Charolais cows but monocyte values were significantly lower. Friesian, Charolais and Hereford cows had significantly higher neutrophil counts than Jersey, Aberdeen Angus and Shorthorn.

Blood Values in Cows: Erythrocytes

Summary Cows (over 2½ years old) of Charolais, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, ferscy, Friesian and Shorthorn breeds were blood sampled to estimate haemoglobin, packed cell volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. Charolais cattle had significantly higher values for packed cell volume and haemoglobin. Jersey cows had significantly lower values for haemoglobin and there were significant differences in packed cell volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration within the 5 Jersey herds. There were wide variations in individual values irrespective of breed.

CHANGE IN AMINO ACIDS COMPOSITIONS OF BEEF WITH CONCENTRATED FATTENING OF CATTLE

In the article the authors examine nutritive value of beef generated on concentrate fattening of beef cattle according to content of fat, protein and amino acids. Specimens for chemical analysis have been taken from the longest muscle of dorsum (Musculus longissimus dorsi). For comparative analysis three specimens have been selected: two from beef and one from porkmeat. The first sample has been prepared from beef of traditional fattening (I t.f.), the second one – from marbled beef (II c.f.) and the last one - from pork (III p.). The first and third samples have been extracted from cooled production realized in fresh form, on half carcass transection on second last rib. As for the second specimen an end product has been taken that is realized in cellophane vacuum package under the firm name «Marbled beef medallion», produced on cattle grain fattening «Black Angus» (correct name – Aberdeen-Angus breed) during 200 days. Chemical analysis has been conducted in researching centre Federal Science Centre «All-Russian Scientific-Researching and Technological Institute of Poultry Industry» under the Russian Academy of Science in 2018. Chemical and amino acid content has been examined in air-dried material of muscular tissue. The group of authors has discovered that in beef muscular tissue produced on concentrate fattening the content of protein is 20-23% less and fat is about five times more than in muscle of pork and beef generated on traditional fattening. The total content of amino acids of concentrate group was 23.4% less that in beef cattle muscle under the standard fattening and 19.6% less than in pork muscle. Deterioration of nutritive value arises due to increase of fat content and decrease of amino acids that are a part of globular and fibrillary proteins.

Studies of the inheritance of bovine serum transferrins

SUMMARY1. The transferrins in two cattle herds were studied by means of starch gel electrophoresis. Three phenotypes were observed in a Hereford herd and six in a Hybrid herd comprised of Galloway, Aberdeen Angus and Charolais breeds.2. Gene frequencies were calculated for each herd. Great variation was found in the frequency of the transferrin alleles between breed and source within the Hybrid herd and between the Hybrid and Hereford herds. The frequencies of the transferrin alleles found in the cows in the Hereford herd were TfA= 0·467 and TfD= 0·533; those found in the cows in the Hybrid herd were TfA= 0·382, TfD= 0·506 and TfE= 0·112.3. Progeny data were in general agreement with the three-allele theory of inheritance, although the data suggested that offspring in the Hybrid herd carrying the TfEallele occurred at a lower frequency than expected.4. The possible relation of transferrin type to embryonic mortality was studied. The results were in general agreement with those of other workers, indicating a possible interaction between the genotypes of the foetus and dam.5. The characteristics of the transferrin types and the postulated three-allele genetic mechanism for the control of the observed variation are discussed.