Bos indicus/Bos taurus crosses - growth in different environments
Introduction
Beef production in New South Wales covers a range of climatic zones — from subtropical through temperate to mediterranean. Superimposed on the climatic variability are differences in pasture quality and quantity.
Crossbreeding is now extensively used to increase productivity of cattle. Currently, 50%–60% of cattle turned off are crossbred. In subtropical and some temperate areas, cattle with a proportion of Bos indicus breeding are used.
This Agfact is intended as a guide to assist cattle producers in deciding which Bos indicus / Bos taurus crosses are best suited to their particular management, pasture and environmental conditions, based on pre-weaning and post-weaning growth.
How the guide was generated
Several years of research on Bos indicus / Bos taurus straightbreds and crosses have been conducted at various locations throughout New South Wales including the Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, Grafton. From the results, equations were developed (taking into account hybrid vigour and breed effects) to predict growth performance of different Bos indicus / Bos taurus crosses under various pasture and environmental conditions. These equations were used in predicting growth rates of the different crosses presented in this Agfact.
Background information
- Pasture and environmental conditions differ widely across the state and at different periods of the year. Straightbred Hereford performance is used as the reference point for this Agfact. You should have an idea of the expected performance of straightbred Herefords under the pasture and environmental conditions of your location of interest.
- The growth rates presented in this guide are for extended periods of time, such as the entire pre-weaning period or over a whole year of the post-weaning period. The expected straightbred Hereford performance should also be over an equivalent period of time.
- The Hereford was used to represent Bos taurus (British type) and the Brahman was used to represent Bos indicus breeds. It is expected that, to some degree, the relative performance of crosses of other British and Bos indicus breeds can be deduced from this guide.
Pre-weaning growth
- From your knowledge of expected performance of straightbred Hereford calves, choose from Table 1 the pasture quality (poor, average or good) which best represents your location.
- For example, if pasture quality and quantity and environmental conditions are such that straightbred Hereford calves are expected to gain less than 500 g/day (from birth to weaning), then values under ‘poor pasture quality’ in Table 1 should be used. Similarly, if straightbred Hereford calves are expected to gain more than 800 g/day, then values under ‘good pasture quality’ in Table 1 should be used.
- Crosses with optimum predicted pre-weaning growth for your environment can be chosen from the column that best represents your pasture situation.
| Breed/cross of calf* | Pasture quality | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Average | Good | |
| Hereford (H) | 425 | 704 | 827 |
| Brahman (B) | 658 | 713 | 770 |
| B × H (Fl) | 468 | 773 | 884 |
| H × B (Fl) | 738 | 780 | 872 |
| B × Fl | 716 | 848 | 858 |
| H × Fl | 734 | 847 | 880 |
| Fl × B | 698 | 747 | 821 |
| Fl × H | 446 | 739 | 855 |
| Fl × Fl | 725 | 848 | 869 |
* Sire breed × dam breed
F1 First-cross
Post-weaning growth
The same principles used for pre-weaning growth apply.
- From your knowledge of expected performance of straightbred Hereford steers, choose from Table 2 the environment (poor, average or good) which best represents your location.
- For example, if pasture quality and quantity and environmental conditions are such that straightbred Hereford steers are expected to gain an average of 50 g/day over the whole year, then values under ‘poor environment’ in Table 2 should be used. Similarly, if straightbred Hereford steers are expected to gain more than 500 g/day, then values under ‘good environment’ in Table 2 should be used.
- Crosses with optimum predicted post-weaning growth can be chosen from the column that best represents your pasture situation.
| Breed/cross of steer* | Pasture quality | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Average | Good | |
| Hereford (H) | 51 | 206 | 503 |
| Brahman (B) | 135 | 212 | 452 |
| B × H (Fl) | 168 | 321 | 584 |
| H × B (Fl) | 182 | 282 | 639 |
| B × Fl | 124 | 210 | 440 |
| H × Fl | 89 | 188 | 493 |
| Fl × B | 159 | 247 | 546 |
| Fl × H | 110 | 263 | 544 |
| Fl × Fl | 106 | 199 | 467 |
*Sire breed × dam breed
F1 First-cross
Further reading
Arthur, PF, Hearnshaw, H, Kohun, PJ & Barlow, R 1994, ‘Evaluation of Bos indicus and Bos taurus straightbreds and crosses: direct and maternal genetic effects on growth traits’, Australian Journal of Agricultural Research; 45:807–818.
Arthur, PF, Hearnshaw, H, Kohun, PJ & Barlow, R 1994, ‘Evaluation of Bos indicus and Bos taurus straightbreds and crosses: postweaning growth of steers in different environments’, Australian Journal of Agricultural Research; 45:783–794.
Exton, SC ‘Post weaning growth and carcase characteristics of crossbred cattle’ (results from part of the crossbreeding program at the Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, Grafton), Animal Production Report No. 6.
Hearnshaw H, Arthur, PF, Barlow, R, Kohun, PJ & Darnell, RE 1994, ‘Evaluation of Bos indicus and Bos taurus straightbreds and crosses: postweaning growth, puberty and pelvic size of heifers’, Australian Journal of Agricultural Research; 45:795–805.
