BRAHMAN-BRITISH BEEF CATTLE CROSSES IN CANADA. II. POSTWEANING GROWTH AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS

Brahman-British beef cattle crosses in Canada (F1 hybrids) out-gained contemporary Herefords under both winter and summer range conditions. Brahman × Hereford, Brahman × Angus and Brahman × Shorthorn steers marketed off grass at 2.5 yr of age surpassed Herefords by 61 – 64 kg in cold carcass weight, 3.9 – 4.8% in dressed carcass yield, and 4 – 6 cm2 in longissimus dorsi area per 250 kg of carcass. The 1/4-Brahman progenies from matings of Hereford bulls with F1 cows did not differ significantly from Herefords in year-long postweaning gain, either under Alberta range conditions or under summer grazing and limited winter feeding conditions at Ottawa, Ontario. Hereford × (Brahman × Hereford) backcross calves gained less than Herefords but averaged 16 kg heavier in cold carcass weight because of greater initial (weaning) weight and a higher dressing percentage. There was no difference between the crosses (F1 hybrids and back-crosses) and Herefords in carcass grade. The major benefit of the Brahman-British cattle crosses resulted from the superior performance of the F1 hybrids, expressed as a marked superiority in growth rate of the F1 steers and heifers and a greater weight-for-age of the 1/4-Brahman progenies of F1 cows. Key words: Brahman, Hereford, Angus, Shorthorn, crossbreeding