Short Horn Research Articles

The Transformation of the Use-value of Japanese Short Horn Cows to Quality in the Short Horn Cow Direct Sales between Yamagata Village and the Daichi

The Transformation of the Use-value of Japanese Short Horn Cows to Quality in the Short Horn Cow Direct Sales between Yamagata Village and the Daichi

163 FUNCTIONAL COMPARISON OF BOVINE TROPHOBLASTIC VESICLES DERIVED FROM FRESHLY COLLECTED CONCEPTUSES AND SERIALLY PASSAGED TROPHOBLAST CELLS

The co-transfer of trophoblastic vesicles (TVs), derived from in vivo-recovered conceptuses, is a well-known method for promoting the successful implantation of embryos through the action of bovine interferon-tau (bIFN-τ) on maternal-fetal recognition. However, the preparation of these TVs is a tedious process. Techniques have progressed for obtaining large numbers of TVs consistently from serially passaged trophoblast cells. The aim of the present study was to compare the function of TVs for co-transfer derived from in vitro production with those derived from in vivo-flushed embryos, and without co-transfer. Production of TVs from serially passaged trophoblast cells was carried out according to the method previously described by Takahashi et al. (2000, Cloned animals and placentation, 147–151, Yokendo: Tokyo, Japan). The in vitro TVs (IVP-TVs), 1–2 mm in diameter, were taken from cells passaged 48th to 52th and 96th. In vivo-derived TVs (vivo-TVs) were prepared from recovered elongating blastocysts 7 days after transfer of frozen–thawed embryos on Day 8 of the estrous cycle. Demi-embryos were produced from fresh embryos of flushed Japanese Black cows by bisection using a micromanipulator. Pairs of demi-embryos, without (control) or with 2 to 4 TVs, were transferred into the uterus ipsilateral of 65 Japanese Short Horn recipients to the functional corpus luteum. Pregnancy diagnoses were performed twice, from Day 30 to 70, by ultrasound scanning. BIFN-τ content of culture media was measured by RIA (Takahashi et al. 2005 Theriogenology 63, 1050–1060). Data were analyzed by chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. The pregnancy rate in the IVP-TVs group (20.0%, 5/25) had a tendency to be lower than in the vivo-TVs (46.2%, 6/13), although this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.09). These pregnant animals were transferred TVs from passaged 48th-52nd (5/19). In the control group 33.3% (9/27) of recipients conceived. Twin pregnancy rate was also lower in the IVP-TVs (0/5) than in the other two groups (3/6 and 5/9, P = 0.09 and P = 0.04, respectively). Fetal losses occurred only in the single pregnancies of IVP-TVs (60.0%, 3/5) and vivo-TVs (16.7%, 1/6) up until Day 70. Reproductive efficiency, based on numbers of delivered offspring, was significantly lower in the IVP-TVs (8%, 2/25) compared with the vivo-TVs (61.5%, 8/13) and control (51.9%, 14/27) groups, respectively (P < 0.01). BIFN-τ levels secreted from the TVs derived from passages 46th and 48th were 0.157 ng/mL-1 and 0.113 ng/mL-1, respectively. In conclusion, compared with the in vivo TVs, those from serially passaged trophoblast cells had a negative effect on pregnancy, although the morphology of the two differently derived TVs was similar.

Musical instruments depicted in medieval Serbian art under oriental and western influences

Researching musical instruments on frescoes, miniatures, icons and sculptural decorations of mediaeval Serbian art, painted and sculptured in the manner of Byzantine art, we discover Oriental and Western influences. Musical instruments arriving from the Orient were unchanged for centuries and those from West Europe were mainly used in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance. Oriental and Western influences can be observed on instruments of all families-idiophones, membranophones, bowed and string instruments, as well as on aero phones. The same form of some crotales and cymbals can be found both in Oriental and Western art, the majority of membranophones are of Oriental origin, but the tambourine on Bodani frescoes originated in West Europe. Lyres and angular harps are close to Antique tradition. Some bowed instruments, psalteries, lutes, harps, short horns, business and shawms have Oriental patterns and other instruments of these families accepted Western shapes. There are, as well, same kinds of bowed instruments and S-trumpets peculiar for both continents.

Compact Low-Cross-Polarization Horn Antennas With Serpentine-Shaped Taper

A compact horn with low cross polarization component less than -35 dB over 5% frequency bandwidth has been obtained by optimizing the taper configuration. To reduce the gain loss caused by spherical wavefront in a short length horn with a large flare angle, a serpentine-shaped taper successfully generates five higher-order modes. Such a taper configuration is represented by varying lengths of various uniform waveguides in stepwise approximation, while keeping the dimension of each step discontinuity constant. As a result, the computational time for obtaining the proposed horn is greatly reduced because scattering matrices of the step discontinuities are pre-calculated before the optimization. The verification of its high performance has been performed numerically and experimentally.

Relative allocation to horn and body growth in bighorn rams varies with resource availability

Males may allocate a greater proportion of metabolic resources to maintenance than to the development of secondary sexual characters when food is scarce, to avoid compromising their probability of survival. We assessed the effects of resource availability on body mass and horn growth of bighorn rams (Ovis canadensis) at Ram Mountain, Alberta, Canada over 30 years. The number of adult ewes in the population tripled during our study, and the average mass of yearling females decreased by 13%. We used the average mass of yearling females as an index of resource availability. Yearling female mass was negatively correlated with the body mass of rams of all ages, but it affected horn growth only during the first three years of life. Yearly horn growth was affected by a complex interaction of age, body mass, and resource availability. Among rams aged 2–4 years, the heaviest individuals had similar horn growth at high and at low resource availability, but as ram mass decreased, horn growth for a given body mass became progressively smaller with decreasing resource availability. For rams aged 5–9 years, horn growth was weakly but positively correlated with body mass, and rams grew slightly more horn for a given body mass as resource availability decreased. When food is limited, young rams may direct more resources to body growth than to horn growth, possibly trading long-term reproductive success for short-term survival. Although horn growth of older rams appeared to be greater at low than at high resource availability, we found no correlation between early and late growth in horn length for the same ram, suggesting that compensatory horn growth does not occur in our study population. Young rams with longer horns were more likely to be shot by sport hunters than those with shorter horns. Trophy hunting could select against rams with fast-growing horns.

The rams horn in western history

The shofar or rams horn—one of the most ancient of surviving aerophones—may have originated with early Neolithic herders. The shofar is mentioned frequently and importantly in the Hebrew bible and in later biblical and post-biblical literature. Despite its long history, contemporary ritual uses, and profound symbolic significance to western religion, no documentation of shofar acoustical properties was found. Since ancient times, shepherds of many cultures have fashioned sound instruments from the horns of herd animals for practical and musical uses. Shepherd horns of other cultures exhibit an evolution of form and technology (e.g., the inclusion of finger holes). The shofar is unique in having retained its primitive form. It is suggested that after centuries of practical use, the shofar became emblematic of the shepherd culture. Ritual use then developed, which froze its form. A modern ritual rams horn played by an experienced blower was examined. This rather short horn was determined to have a source strength of 92 dB (A) at 1 m, a fundamental frequency near 420 Hz, and maximum power output between 1.2 and 1.8 kHz. Sample sounds and detection range estimates are provided.

Risk factors associated with the occurrence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

A study was conducted in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania to determine the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and the risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease in cattle of different categories and in different climatic zones. The overall prevalence of the disease was 13.2%, and 51% of the herds tested contained reactor cattle. Assessment of risk factors was based on comparisons of the reactivity of the cattle in the single comparative intradermal tuberculin test (SCITT). Older cattle were more affected by the disease than yearlings and calves (p<0.0001). There were significant differences between male and female cattle (p<0.05) and between cattle with exotic blood compared to indigenous Short Horn Zebu (SHZ) cattle (p<0.05). The castrated bulls, often used for draught power, were more frequently (p<0.01) affected than the entire bulls, mainly used for breeding. Reactivity to tuberculin did not appear to be influenced by the reproductive status of the animal. The reactivity to tuberculin of pregnant cattle was not significantly different from that of the rest of the cows (p>0.05). However, significantly more (14.6%) lactating cattle reacted in the SCITT than did non-lactating cows (12.0%) (p<0.05). There was a highly significant difference (p<0.001) between reactivity in the SCITT among cattle grazing in the hot and dry lower lands (14.0%) and that in those grazing in the cool and wet highlands (8.7%).

Seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle and humans in the Akwapim-South district of Ghana: public health implications

A total of 183 cattle comprising 54 bulls, 53 milking cows, 76 heifers and 44 calves in the Akwapim-South district of Ghana were tested for antibodies against Brucella abortus using the Rose Bengal plate test. The results indicated that cattle in the Akwapim-South district were infected with Brucella with a mean seroprevalence of 6.6%. There was no difference in the seroprevalence either between females 11/129 (8.5%) and males 1/54 (1.9%), or among the three different breeds of cattle (Sanga, West African short horn (WASH) and white Fulani) in the study area. However, there was a significant increase in seropositivity with respect to age. A significant association between antibodies against Brucella and a history of abortions and retained placenta in cows indicated that brucellosis might be responsible for significant economic losses to farmers in the area. However, no evidence of human brucellosis was detected by antibody screening in selected risk groups.

Exochosphaeridium alisitosense n. sp.; a new gonyaulacoid dinoflagellate from the Albian of Baja California, Mexico

A new species of skolochorate dinoflagellate cyst, Exochosphaeridium alisitosense, from upper Albian strata in Baja California, Mexico is described. The genus Exochosphaeridium is emended to include fossil dinoflagellate cysts with nontabular to intratabular processes, occasionally modified in the antapical area and with a short apical horn, and assigned to the subfamily Cribroperidinioideae. E. alisitosense, has intratabular processes and a reticulate antapical area that together with the adjacent paraplates, delineates a symmetrical sexiform arrangement with dextral torsion. This species also has an S-type ventral organization with an A/ai paratabulation pattern.

Horn Growth in Mountain Goats (Oreamnos americanus)

Horns of bovids are important social organs, their growth is often indicative of population characteristics and habitat quality, but little is known of the factors affecting their growth in individuals. We studied horn growth of 135 (51 males, 84 females) marked mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in Alberta, Canada, for 9 years. In both sexes, horn growth was quadratic during the first 5 years of life and not significant after 5 years of age. Goats completed 93% of horn growth by 3 years of age. Horns of males grew more than those of females during the first 1.5 years of life. Horns of females grew more than those of males during the third year. Although males maintained longer horns than females because of their longer first increment, adult males had shorter horns than females for a given body size. Males had thicker horns than females at all ages, absolutely or relative to body size. Horn growth early in life was correlated negatively with later growth. Annual growth increments of horns of females aged 4–5 years were affected negatively by lactation. Horn growth was not affected by total rainfall during the vegetation-growing season. Total length and basal circumference of horns were correlated positively with mass, chest girth, and hind-foot length in both males and females. While sexual dimorphism in body mass of mountain goats increases until at least 5 years of age, most dimorphism in horn growth is achieved by 2 years of age. Therefore, body mass of mountain goats may be a more important factor than horn size for male mating success.

Fine structure of the eggshell of Ommatissus binotatus Fieber (Homoptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Tropiduchidae)

The external morphology and fine structure of the eggshell of Ommatissus binotatus Fieber (Homoptera : Tropiduchidae) was investigated by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The egg surface has 2 main regions: a specialized area and an unspecialized egg capsule. The specialized area is characterized by a large respiratory plate containing the operculum and a short respiratory horn. The latter consists of an external hollow tube and an internal coneshaped projection hosting a micropylar canal. The eggshell has 4 layers: the vitelline envelope, a wax layer, the chorion and an outer mucous layer. The chorion has inner, intermediate and outer parts. The functions of the different parts of the eggshell are discussed. Characters useful to define the eggs and the oviposition habit in the family Tropiduchidae were provided. The size and morphology of the egg, plate, respiratory horn and operculum are suggested as useful characters for ootaxonomic analysis.

ARTIFICIAL SELECTION ON HORN LENGTH-BODY SIZE ALLOMETRY IN THE HORNED BEETLE ONTHOPHAGUS ACUMINATUS (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE).

Males of the horned beetle Onthophagus acuminatus Har. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) exhibit horn length dimorphism due to a sigmoidal allometric relationship between horn length and body size: the steep slope of the allometry around the inflection of the sigmoid curve separates males into two groups; those larger than this inflection possess long horns, and those smaller than this inflection have short horns or lack horns. I examined the genetic basis of the allometric relationship between horn length and body size by selecting males that produced unusually long horns, and males that produced unusually short horns, for their respective body sizes. After seven generations of selection, lines selected for relatively long horns had significantly longer horn lengths for a given body size than lines selected for relatively short horns, indicating a heritable component to variation in the allometry. The sigmoidal shape of the allometry was not affected by this selection regime. Rather, selected lines differed in the position of the allometry along the body size axis. One consequence of lateral shifts in this allometric relationship was that the body size separating horned from hornless males (the point of inflection of the sigmoid curve) differed between selection lines: lines in which males were selected for relatively long horns began horn production at smaller body sizes than lines selected for relatively short horns. These results suggest that populations can evolve in response to selection on male horn length through modification of the growth relationship between horn length and body size.

Morphology of Horns and Fighting Behavior in the Family Bovidae

Horns of bovids are remarkably diverse. This diversity may reflect functional differences associated with the use of horns as intraspecific weapons. I use measurements from museum specimens and behavioral data from the literature to examine the relationship between morphology of horns of males and fighting behavior in 21 species of bovids, representing 11 of the 12 bovid tribes. A high correlation between morphology of horns and fighting behavior was found. In particular, a short horn reach and undeveloped catching arch is associated with stabbing behavior; a long horn reach, with wrestling and fencing behavior; a well-developed catching arch, with wrestling behavior; and robust, recurved horns, with ramming behavior. A phylogeny of bovid tribes suggests that these features of morphology of horns and fighting behavior are rapidly evolving and frequently convergent.

Horn and Wing Allometry and Male Dimorphism in Giant Rhinoceros Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of Tropical Asia and America

In populations of four rhinoceros beetle species (Chalcosoma Caucasus F. and C. atlas L. from Asia, and Dynastes neptunus Quonsel and D. hercules L. from America), quantitative analyses of intraspecific variations were conducted with emphasis on the allomorphosis of horns and wings. In all female populations, body length was isometric to all other morphological traits measured, indicating that large females are in all aspects magnified versions of small females. Males were larger and more variable than females. In all male populations, head and thorax horns were remarkably and positively allometric, whereas hind wing length and width were negatively allometric to body size. Thus, smaller males had comparatively large wings and rudimentary horns, and larger males had greatly enlarged horns and comparatively small wings. Males of C. Caucasus, C. atlas, and D. neptunus diverged into two clearly distinguishable morphs: minor with comparatively small body and shorter horns, and major with larger body and longer horns; in each morph the body and horn size relationship was subject to a different formula. In D. hercules, divergence of males into two morphs was less clear-cut; yet distinct body and horn size relationships could be detected in the minors and majors. The positive allometry of horns and the negative allometry of wings persisted across as well as within morphs. These results suggest that allomorphosis of horns and wings is general and widespread among rhinoceros beetles of different phytogenies, and male dimorphism is also common, but its rigidity varies among different phylogenetic groups.

Comparison of Meat Production Potential of Hybrids fromBos grunniens(Yak) and SixBos taurusBreeds: A Deterministic Simulation Model for Economic Evaluation

Abstract Wang, N., Vandepitte, W. and Wu, J. C. 1994. Comparison of meat production potential of hybrids from Bos grunniens (Yak) and six Bos taurus breeds. A deterministic simulation model for economic evaluation. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 5: 81–88. Hybridization systems based on the crossbreeding experiments and the yak population structure as proposed by Lei (1986) are evaluated with a deterministic simulation model. The sire breeds included in the crossbreeding program are Friesian-Holstein (FH), Hereford (HE), Shorthorn (SH), Simmenthal (SI), Charolais (CH) and Angus (AN) from the Longri, Shiqu, Hequ and Datong cattle farms in the Peoples Republic of China. It is observed that the birth weight for ANxYak is higher than that for other crosses. For daily gain from birth to 6 months, the CHxYak crosses have the highest growth rate. For daily gain from 6 months to 18 months, the ANxYak crosses are superior. To evaluate monetary gains, birth weight, growth traits and dressing percentage of offspring and surviv...

Growth patterns of first-cross and reciprocal backcross beef cows in two environments

Growth patterns of first-cross (F1) and reciprocal backcross cows, 3–5 yr old, were evaluated under two contrasting environments: extensive range conditions at Manyberries, Alberta, and semi-intensive management at Brandon, Manitoba. Cows resulting from crossing Hereford (H) × Angus (A), Simmental (S) × Shorthorn (N), Charolais (C) × Shorthorn and reciprocal backcrosses from Charolais × Hereford (CH), Charolais × Angus (CA), Charolais × Shorthorn (CN), Simmental × Hereford (SH), Simmental × Angus (SA), and Simmental × Shorthorn (SN) were evaluated at Brandon. At Manyberries, HA, SN and reciprocal backcrosses of SH, SA and SN were evaluated. All cows were bred to Limousin (L) bulls. Cow weights and backfat estimates were recorded at breeding, calving and weaning. The HA cows were the lightest group for all weigh periods at both locations. At all weigh periods, the SSN (3/4 S 1/4 N) dam crosses at Manyberries and the CCN (3/4 C 1/4 N) and CCH (3/4 C 1/4 H) at Brandon were the heaviest. At Brandon, females gained weight during gestation and usually lost weight during summer nursing. Cows at Manyberries usually gained weight during nursing, with significant gestation weight loss. Nursing status of the cow had a significant effect on weight change, with barren status providing an opportunity for large compensatory gains. The CN dams were significantly heavier at all weigh periods than their 1/4 C back-crosses. At Brandon, the SN dam cross weights exceeded those of their reciprocal backcrosses at breeding, calving and weaning and at calving for the 1/4 S dams. At Manyberries, SN weights exceeded those of the 3/4 S crosses at weaning. Over the duration of study, average backfat estimates for cows at Brandon exceeded those at Manyberries (10.8 and 8.6 mm, respectively). Specific dam crosses performed differently at the two locations, and commercial cattlemen need to closely evaluate the F1 and backcross comparisons to determine the optimal level of performance under their particular management and environmental conditions. Key words: Beef cattle, growth, nursing status, crossbreeding, environment

Seroepidemiological survey of cattle trypanosomiasis in coastal savanna zone of Ghana

Animal trypanosomiasis causes severe losses in livestock production as a result of poor growth, weight loss, low milk yield, reduced capacity to work, infertility and abortion, even in cases of chronic low level infections (Trail et al., 1985; Anon., 1988). In Ghana, very few outbreaks of trypanosomiasis have been reported, although tsetse flies are present (Aryee et al., 1991). This has been attributed to the predominance of trypanotolerant breeds in the country. However, trypanosome infection among trypano-tolerant animals may result in poor health, which may lower their resistance to other diseases and parasites (ILCA, 1979b). There is evidence that in the face of increased tsetse challenge, the productivity of tolerant animals e.g., Ndama, falls as a result of stunting, wasting, abortion and death (Trail et al., 1984). Farmers in Ghana are increasingly showing a preference for zebu cattle and as these animals are introduced into high tsetse challenge areas, it is likely that trypanosomiasis will assume greater importance (Aryee et al., 1991). There are few reports of trypanosome infections in the Northern, Upper West, Ashanti, Western and Greater Accra Regions (Aryee et al., 1991) and none so far reported from Central Region, where the present study was conducted. The objective of the survey was to investigate the prevalence of bovine trypanosomiasis in Winneba District in the Coastal Savanna Zone of Ghana to assess the importance of trypanosomiasis on livestock development in that area and also help in the formulation of any necessary control measures. Winneba district lies between longitudes 0°30 ' and 0°45'W and latitudes 5°15 ' and 5°40 ' N in Ghana. It is in humid coastal ecozone with a thicket and grassland type of vegetation. Four locations, namely Animal Breeding Station (AHPD) (Location I), Kojoku (Location II), Kasoa (Location III) and Domiebra (Location IV) were chosen, since they are important cattle rearing areas. The district has one of the highest concentrations of cattle in the coastal savanna zone of Ghana. In 1988, 86% of the cattle in Central Region were found here (Enchill, 1989). In location I, Sanga and West African short horn breeds predomi-

Two new graptolites from the early Silurian (Llandovery: Aeronian) of central Wales: an origin for monoclimacid thecal morphology

AbstractMonograptus chrysalissp. nov. from themagnusZone (Aeronian) of central Wales shows a previously unrecognized combination of thecal types. Distally, the thecae possess marked lappets and short lateral horns, and approximate to those of therevolutusgroup of monograptids and some described examples ofPribylograptus. Proximally, the thecae are elongate and slender, and possess slit-like apertures below a distinct geniculum. They resemble the proximal thecae ofMonograptus imagosp. nov., one of the earliest recognized British monoclimacid monograptids, from the succeedingleptothecaZone of central Wales and the Lake District. It is suggested thatM. chrysalisarose from a graptolite of therevolutusgroup by retraction or suppression of the hooked proximal thecae, while the distal thecae remained constant, and thatM. imagothen evolved fromM. chrysalisby a spreading of the proximal end characteristics distally. The proximal morphology and overall record of the monoclimacids, though, suggests that they may be polyphyletic; in this paper, the generic nameMonoclimacisis reserved for the late Telychian graptolites of thevomerinagroup.

Taxonomic status of the Farasan Island gazelle

The taxonomy of Arabian gazelles has been confused by single specimen collected from the Farasan Islands in the Red Sea in the 1820s. There is still population of gazelles on the islands. They form distinct taxon most closely related to the mountain gazelle Gazella gaiella, which is characterized by small size, grey‐brown colouring, very short horns in the female and rounded upper tooth‐row in the male. This gazelle bears no resemblance to the type specimen of G. arabica, said to come from the Farasan Islands. In this paper the Farasan gazelle is described as Gazella gazella Jarasani n. ssp.

GROWTH AND MATERNAL PERFORMANCE OF TWO-YEAR-OLD F1 AND RECIPROCAL BACKCROSS HEIFERS IN TWO ENVIRONMENTS

Growth patterns and calf performance of 2-yr-old F1 and reciprocal backcross females were compared in two contrasting environments, semi-intensive management (Brandon, Man.) and extensive range management (Manyberries, Alta.). At Brandon, 621 heifers of Hereford × Angus (HA), Simmental × Shorthorn (SN), Charolais × Shorthorn (CN) and reciprocal backcrosses from Charolais × Hereford (CH), Charolais × Angus (CA), Charolais × Shorthorn (CN), Simmental × Hereford (SH), Simmental × Angus (SA), and Simmental × Shorthorn (SN) were evaluated. At Manyberries, 271 heifers of HA, SN, CN and reciprocals of SH, SA and SN were evaluated. They were bred to Limousin bulls. The HA heifers were the lightest at 14, 18, 24, 26 and 30 mo of age at both locations. Location differences for dam crosses in common ranged from 5% at 14 mo to 19% for 30 mo weight (Brandon &gt; Manyberries). At all ages, the 3/4 C 1/4 N and the 3/4 S 1/4 N dam crosses were the heaviest at Brandon and Manyberries, respectively. Differences in weights at all ages between the CN and their reciprocal backcrosses were not significant at Brandon. The SN dams exceeded their reciprocal backcrosses in weight at all ages at Brandon (P &lt; 0.01) but none of the differences were significant at Manyberries. Very few of the differences recorded for gestation length and birth weight at either location were significant. Progeny from HA dams were the lightest at birth and when significant differences existed for gestation length the longest were associated with the 3/4 "exotics." At both locations, progeny from HA dams were lightest and the progeny from the 3/4 "exotics" the heaviest at weaning. Females at Manyberries produced calves that were 3.3% heavier at weaning than those at Brandon. The highest weaning weight ratios were recorded for the 3/4 S 1/4 A, 3/4 S 1/4 N and SN dam crosses at both locations and these dam crosses were intermediate in weight at 30 mo. Total overall conception for breed crosses common to both locations for breeding at 14 and 26 mo was 77.0% vs. 75.8% and 82.1% vs. 79.5% for Brandon and Manyberries, respectively. Few differences were observed between dam crosses for conception rate. At Brandon, CX females required significantly more services per conception at 14 mo of age than SX females which reflected itself in lower conception rates. Compared with the SX females, the CX females had 11.8% lower conception to 1st service and 4% lower total conception. Calves born at Manyberries experienced greater calving difficulty but this was not reflected in higher calf mortality rates. Key words: Beef cattle, growth, preweaning traits, crossbreeding