Livestock Studies 1997, Vol 37, Num, 1     (Pages: 001-009)

Commercial Crossbreeding of Jersey Cows for Beef Production Using Brangus, Limousin and Simmental Sires. 1. Growth

Ceyhan ÖZBEYAZ 1 ,Cumali BAĞCI 2 ,Tahsin YAĞCI 2 ,Orhan ALPAN 1

1 Ank. Üniv., Veteriner Fakültesi, Zootekni Anabilim Dalı, Ankara-TÜRKİYE
2 TİGEM, Karaköy Tarım İşletmesi, Samsun, TÜRKİYE
- The purpose of this study was to get commercial crossing of Jersey cows with Brangus, Simmental and Limousun sires for dairy beef production. The material of the research consisted of 59 crossbred calves.

There were no significant differences between genotype groups about, average calving easing scores, and there was no dystocia and no cacsarcan operations in all groups.

The average birth weights of Brangus, Simental and Limousin crossbred male calves were 32.7, 26.3 and 31.7 kg, respectively , and differences were statistically significant. Brangus and Limousin crossbred male calves were heavier than Simental crossbred male calves. Brangus, Simental and Limousin female crossbred calves had 29.8, 29.9 and 30.4 kg average birth weights, respectively.

Live weights and some body measurements (height at withers, body length, chest girth and circumference of front shin-bone) were taken between birth and 540 th days of the trial. The average Iive weghts, and body measurements of genotype groups at 540 th days were statisticaly different. In all cascs Brangus crossbreds had higher values then Simental and Limousin crossbreds (including two sexes). Keywords : Commercial crossbreeding, Jersey, Brangus, Simmental, Limousin