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PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY OF CATTLE BREEDS

Breed averages for 16 breeds over 14 years. Nearly 3/4 mil. weaning records and growth test
data of 15000 bulls - Ed.

The purpose of this report is to rank the most numerous beef cattle breeds which took pert in the National Beef Cattle
Performance and Progeny Testing Scheme (PTS) for individual growth traits and some productivity and efficiency
indices. Data from Progress Reports of the Scheme were re-analysed for this investigation. Some authors (Brown &
Dinkel, 1982; McMorris & Wilton, 1986) hold the belief that differences between breeds are strongly related to
differences in mature breed size and that almost no differences in biological efficiency exist between breeds. Although
the data of the scheme are subjected to criticism, the scheme nevertheless provides a useful source of information for
breed comparison purposes. One point of criticism is that it does not take into account the effect of differences in
production environments and management levels.

In South Africa, however, lack of funds prohibits expensive breed comparison on a variety of production environments,
thus leaving us with the data of the PTS as the only data source for breed characterization purposes. It is furthermore
believed that herds in all breeds are to a large degree subjected to differences in production environments and
management levels, consequently cancelling some breed biases owing to environment. It is therefore assumed that breed
averages reflect to a large degree true breed effects.

Materials and Methods

Breed average values were obtained from the 1980 to 1985 and 1986 to 1993 reports of the PTS respectively. These two
averages per breed were then pooled by calculating weighted averages per breed for a number of traits. These included
745400 weaning records and 14990 Phase C records of young growing bulls of the 16 most prominent breeds taking part
in the Scheme. The first were recorded on the cow herd by breeders on the farm, while the latter were derived from
central testing centre data. For the Phase C, only those evaluated over the 140-day period were included in the analysis.

The operation of the PTS will not be discussed here. For more detail, Anon (1986) or Bergh (1990) could be consulted.
Simple correlation and regression procedures were calculated for a variety of traits. Since only breed averages could be
estimated, valid tests for statistical significance between breeds were not possible.

Birth Weight

Average between-breed birth weight was 35.9kg and it varied from 27kg for the Nguni to 41Kg for the Charolais and
South Devon (Table 1). Breed average birth weights are highly correlated with average breed mature size, as estimated
by dam weight at weaning.

The lower than predicted value of the Brahman (6.8%) may be due to a negative maternal effect which restricts birth
weight (Cartwright, 1973; Robertson et al., 1986; Comerford et al., 1987; Tawonezvi et al., 1988). A more favourable
birth to weaning weight ration for Simmentaler calves compared to higher ratios for Charolais and Hereford sires, led
Paterson et al. (1980) to believe that it might be possible to select sire breeds to produce fast-growing calves with low
birth weights. This 'favourable ratio' is more likely the result of a high weaning weight in Simmentalers owing to their
high milk production, than to a restricted birth weight. One would expect those breeds with birth weights higher than
their respective predicted values to be inclined to more dystocia problems compared to those with birth weights lower
than their predicted values.

Weaning Weight and Pre-Weaning Growth Rate.

Breed average weaning weight varied from 161 kg for the Nguni to 235 kg for the Charolais and Simmentaler (Table 1).
The Angus, Hereford and Sussex calves which weighed 8.4% and 6.8% less, while the Santa Gertrudis and Simmental
produced calves which weighed 6.3% and 5.9% respectively more than their predicted weaning weights. This may be the
result of between-breed differences in milk production. It is known that the Hereford is a low milk producing breed
(Reyneke & Bonsma, 1964: Jenkins & Ferrell, 1992). All dual-purpose breeds, except the South Devon, produced calves
heavier than their respective predicted weaning weights.

Simmentaler and Charolais produced the fastest growing calves. Breeds which rank high for mature size, are also high

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ranking for pre-weaning growth rate,

Simmentaler had the highest weaning weight (236 kg) and

produced the fastest growing calves (965g) - Ed.

Pre-weaning efficiency on the other hand, which was defined as pre-weaning ADG/C0.75, was unaffected by mature size.
The Shorthorn. Santa Gertrudis and Simmentaler had the highest efficiencies, while the Afrikaner, Nguni, Hereford and
Sussex were the least efficient breeds.

Post-weaning growth rate

Average daily gain (ADG) of young bulls in the feedlot (Table 2) was also correlated with mature cow size, Afikaner (-
12.2%), Brahman (-14.5%) and Limousin (-7.0%) performed more poorly than predicted values. The Angus (15.5%) and
Simmentaler (13.8%) on the other hand were, compared to their predicted values, the best performing breeds.

Breed group rankings were fairly similar for 540 days ADA of heifers and ADG of bulls in the feedlot. The correlation
between ADG of bulls under feedlot conditions and mature cow weights was 0.686. The same applied to the correlation
between pre-weaning ADG and post-weaning ADG of heifers.

ADG compared to size: Simmentaler and Angus are the best. - Ed.

In the case of the first, there are a few noteworthy exceptions. Although the rankings of breeds were fairly similar for
actual growth rare between the pre- and post-weaning phases, it was not the case for relative growth rate (RGR). Laster
et al. (1976) reported that breeds which ranked high for pre-weaning RGR, but low for post-weaning RGR, tended to
reach puberty earlier. The ratios of pre-weaning RGR/post-weaning RGR were estimated (Table 1) and varied from 3.2
for the Hereford to 11.3 for the Drakensberger. If the finding of Laster et al. is true, it would mean that the Hereford is
sexually very early maturing and that the Drakensberger is the latest maturing breed. This ratio was, however, not
significantly correlated to age at first calving.

Productive efficiency

Cow productive efficiency was defined as (Calf WW/CW) x Calving rate. Across breeds the average of this index was
1.68. The Afrikaner has the lowest and the Shorthorn the highest efficiencies. Efficiency was furthermore independent of
breed mature size. The Shorthorn, Angus and Simmentaler were the most efficient breeds, while the Afrikaner was the
least efficient breed. Calving rate., which is an important part of the productive efficiency index, varied from 0.76
(Afrikaner) to 0.88 (Angus). Contrary to what was found by Roux & Scholtz (1984), calving rate was related neither to
cow mature weight nor to weight of bulls at the end of the Phase C test.

Low productive efficiency: Simmentaler and two others lead the list of 16 - Ed.

Ratios of calf weight to cow weight: (CW) or to cow metabolic weight (CW0.75) have often been used as estimators of
efficiency, Dinkel & Brown (1978) were of the opinion that this tends to bias these ratios in favour of smaller cows. In
this study, efficiency was independent of breed mature size. Smaller breeds were not more efficient than larger breeds.
This is also contrary to what was found at the Omatjenne Research Station. where Nguni was found to be the most
efficient (Schoeman, 1989).

Roux (1992) illustrated the importance of sexual dimorphism as far as herd efficiency is concerned and calculated fairly
large differences in sexual dimorphism between breeds. In this study, sexual dimorphism was calculated as the end of
Phase C test body weight (approx. 430 days of age) of bulls mature body weight of cows at weaning of their calves.
Sexual dimorphism values then varied from 0.86 to 1.06, a difference of 23.3%. Breed productive efficiency was
significantly influenced by breed sexual dimorphism. It is interesting that the dual-purpose breeds, viz. the Simmentaler,
Shorthorn and Pinzgauer ranked higher for both efficiency and sexual dimorphism. This may be the result of both a high
direct effect (growth rate) and a high maternal effect (milk production) of dams of these breeds.

General

The profitability of a beef enterprise depends on two major components, viz. a productivity (growth) and a maternal
component (reproduction and milk production). These data also demonstrated that their are important differences in
individual traits and efficiency among breeds. Ranking of breeds may be totally different for different traits.

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Body weight it any stage as well as weight gain is strongly related to breed mature size as estimated by dam weight at
weaning. There are exceptions, however. The Charolais is the fastest growing breed with the highest mature size.
However, it ranked just above average for pre-weaning growth efficiency and on average for productive efficiency. The
Afrikaner ranked lowest for almost all traits. The Simmentaler, on the other hand, is amongst the highest ranking breeds
for all traits. It makes this breed a logical choice as a terminal sire line but most likely, also as a dam line under very
favourable conditions. Choice of breeds for any production system (e,g. crossbreeding) within a specific environment
should therefore be considered with great caution.

Breed group means for body weight, growth rate (ADG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE)
of young bulls.

Final Weight
BREED n ADG (g/day) FCE (g/kg feed)
(kg)
Afrikaner 489 396 1196 132
Bonsmara 4988 483 1534 145
Brahman 1070 431 1200 142
Brown Swiss 76 541 1674 141
Charolais 210 561 1815 154
Drakensberger 520 464 1435 138
Hereford 928 481 1554 148
Limousin 113 481 1450 142
Nguni 344 353 1167 141
Pinsgauer 535 534 1637 143
Angus 852 482 1629 145
Santa Gertrudis 1142 506 1626 148
Shorthorn 200 470 1538 139
Simmentaler 2387 553 1751 146
South Devon 526 550 1733 151
Sussex 610 466 1521 147
Total/Average 14990 485 1529 144

The following conclusions can be made from this table:

The relationship between weaning weight and the ADG (r = 0.07) and FCR (r = 0.04) is almost non
existent. Preweaning growth is thus unrelated to post weaning growth and efficiency.

Initial weight is also unrelated to ADG (r = 0.03) and poorly related to FCR (r = 0.16).

Final weight is (as expected) highly positively correlated with total feed intake (r = 0.66), ADA (r = 0.75)
and ADG (r = 0.65).

ADG is highly negatively correlated with FCR (r = 0.67) or, in other words, ADG is highly positively
correlated with feed conversion efficiency.

Because of the lack of unity between ADG and FCR, direct selection for feed conversion efficiency
through selection for FCR should receive serious attention, because of the moderate heritability (h2 = +
30 to 35%) of FCR.

Shoulder height and body length is highly positively correlated (r = 0.85). Both have, however, poor
relationships with ADG and FCR.

Scrotum circumference is fairly positively correlated with final test weight (r = 0.42), but is poorly

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correlated with shoulder height (r = 0.14) and body length (r = 0.17).

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