Reproductive Efficiency of Jerseys, Red Sindhis, and Crossbreds
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Papers and Publications in Animal Science Animal Science Department May 1975 Reproductive Efficiency of Jerseys, Red Sindhis, and Crossbreds R. E. McDowell Cornell University B. F. Hollow U .S.D.A., A.R.S. Iberia Livestock Experiment Station, Jeanerette, LA J. K. Camoens USDA-ARS Iberia Livestock Experiment Station, Jeanerette, LA L. Dale Van Vleck University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscifacpub Part of the Animal Sciences Commons McDowell, R. E.; Hollow, B. F.; Camoens, J. K.; and Van Vleck, L. Dale, "Reproductive Efficiency of Jerseys, Red Sindhis, and Crossbreds" (1975). Faculty Papers and Publications in Animal Science. 443. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscifacpub/443 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Papers and Publications in Animal Science by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Reproductive Efficiency of Jerseys, Red Sindhis, and CrossbredsI R. E. McDOWELL, e. F. HOLLON = , J. K. CAMOENS a , and L. D. VAN VLECK Department of Animal Science Cornel~ University Ithaca, NY 14853, and U .S.D.A., A.R .S. Iberia Livestock Experiment Station Jeanerette, LA 70544 ABSTRACT quencies of dystocia or abortions than Ten measures related to breeding effi- Jerseys. Percentages of lactations termi- nated for health, sterility, or death were ciency were used for comparisons among similar among breed groups. The ¾ and 1/2 pure Jerseys and Red Sindhis and cross- breds with 3/4, Vz, or 1/4 European dairy crosses averaged about 17 days shorter in calving interval, but the calving interval inheritance (Brown Swiss, Holstein, or Jersey) at two locations. Jerseys and required for the 3/4 to equal Jerseys in crossbreds were common to both herds milk yield should have been 15 to 29 with Sindhis only at Jeanerette. Means days shorter than observed. The 1k crosses for age at puberty (first estrus after 12 would need intervals less than 285 days mo) were 425 + 4.2, 434 + 6.9, 459 + to be as productive as Jerseys. 6.9, 504 + 14.1, and 717 + 40.4 days for INTRODUCTION Jerseys, crosses of 3/4, V2, or 1/4 and Sindhi. The increase in age of puberty was Crosses among European beef breeds re- additive but not entirely. The 3/4 and 1/2 suited in 5 to 13% heterosis for calving percent- tended to excel parent breeds in rebreed- age per year with the higher values reported ing less than 145 days postpartum, but by from areas of poorer environmental conditions 200 days percentages of conception were (9). When one of the parents was Zebu, the similar. Average heterosis in percent was heterosis ranged from 4 to 14% higher than for 18.4 for age at puberty, .04 days from crosses among European breeds (11, 18). calving to first heat, 9.6 days first breed- The average heterosis in breeding efficiency ing to conception, 8.5 days open, 4.3 from crossing two or more dairy breeds ranged calving interval, and 1.9 in services for from 2 to 5% (1, 5, 14, 17). However, there has conception. The average for the latter five been considerable variation depending on the measures was 4.9%. Significant effects of measures, e.g., -1% for services per conception breed and location in several cases may (14) to 10% for days open (5), or 11% for days have been due to sampling variance. from calving to first estrus (14). Percentages of nonbreeding heifers were In India, first generation crosses by Brown similar for Jerseys and 3/4 or '/2 crosses Swiss, Holstein, or Jersey sires markedly have (8.0%) but high in 1/4 crosses (15.4%). excelled native types in age at puberty and age Fewer crosses completed two gestations. at first calving, with some reduction in calving Both in first and later parities, crosses, interval and services per conception (2, 7, 15, particularly ¼, had higher frequencies of 19, 20, 21). Heterosis could not be estimated reproductive disorders than Jerseys (6.8 since females of both parents were not present, versus 4.2). Crosses also had higher fre- but the magnitude of the regression coefficients for F 1 and backcrosses indicate heterosis may be higher than for dairy crosses in the U. S. Received May 29, 1975. Within Bos indicus or Bos taurus, differences 'This work was part of the Southern Regional among breeds in breeding efficiency appear Dairy Cattle Breeding Project, $49 (Genetic Methods small. Nevertheless, Jerseys seem superior to of Improving Dairy Cattle for the South). 2 U.S.D.A., A.R.S., Dairy Experiment Station, other European breeds (E), both in temperate Lewisburg, TN 37091. and subtropical areas (4, 6, 12, 14, 22). Among a Kluang, Johor. West Malaysia. the >25 recognized breeds of Bos indicus in 127 128 McDOWELL ET AL. India, the Sindhi is well above average in F 1 cows to Jersey sires or the reciprocals; ¾ breeding efficiency of females (20, 21). It is Holstein × ¼ Sindhi crosses (H × SH), which generally accepted that Bos taurus of the were all backcrosses of F1 cows to Holstein temperate regions reach puberty earlier and sires; and 3-breed crosses from mating Brown exhibit estrus sooner after parturition than Bos Swiss or Holstein sires to Fx Sindhi × Jersey indicus, but both types are similar in services females. The 1/2 E group was made up of Ft per conception (10, 13). These observations are crosses by mating Sindhi sires to Jersey or based largely on performance where parental Holstein cows and F2 crosses-inter se mating types were in different herds. of FI Jersey crosses. The ¼ E crosses were all The purpose of this study was to evaluate from backcrossing Sindhi sires to F1 (S × J) the breeding efficiency of Red Sindhi and its COWS. crosses in comparison to Jerseys under good conditions of feeding and management. Breeding Schedule Estrus recording commenced at 12 mo of MATERIALS AND METHODS age and continued as long as the females remained in the herds. Heifers without estrus Source of Data by 14 mo were palpated to distinguish between Breeding records were from two herds, inactive ovaries and silent heats. Reproductive Beltsville, MD, and Jeanerette, LA, where inves- tracts also were palpated for abnormalities prior tigations were on the possible use of crosses to each expected breeding. Heifers were bred at with Red Sindhi breeding for improving traits the first estrus following 15 mo at Beltsville and important in dairying. The breeding plan in the 17 mo at Jeanerette irrespective of size. Breed- two herds was reported earlier (3, 8). There ing continued at each observed estrus until were 736 parities for 246 purebred Jerseys or conception or until the heifers reached 24 mo Sindhis and 865 parities for 315 crosses (Table at Beltsville and 26 mo at Jeanerette. 1). The ¾ E group consisted of: ¾ Jersey x ¼ Lactating cows were bred at the first estrus Sindhi crosses (J x S J) produced from mating following 60 days postpartum. Those open TABLE 1 Numbers of cows, records, sires, and daughters per sire for various groups. Breed Jeanerette Beltsville No. sires group Cows Parities Cows Parities w/daughters for breeding Purebreds Jer (J) 60 247 182 470 20 32 Sind (S) 4 19 ..... 3 6 ¾ E Crones J × SJ 24 66 26 45 14 17 H × SH a ...... 13 21 8 16 H × SJ 33 137 ..... 15 28 Bb × SJ 10 37 ..... 6 19 ½ E Crosses SX J (F 1 58 235 54 144 5 37 S× J(F 2 12 33 5 5 5 7 S×H 2 5 14 24 3 11 ¼ E Crosses S × SJ 24 55 40 58 5 13 all; Holstein. bB; Brown Swiss. Journal of Dairy Science Vot. 59, No. 1 REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY 129 after 300 days were culled. Within breeding Feeding periods, each female was bred for up to three Heifers were fed for rapid development on services to one sire with subsequent services to rations of concentrates plus forages. During alternate sires. All females that would rebreed lactation, concentrates were allocated according were allowed to complete at least two gesta- to milk yield, fat content, and body weight. At tions irrespective of milk yield. Culling for low Jeanerette, pastures were used as the main production commenced about 150 days into source of forages for 300 days or more per the second lactation. year. When grazing was inadequate, grass or Most of the services were by A1 (artificial sorghum silage and clover hay were used. At insemination) with liquid or frozen semen, Beltsville, all groups were fed in the barn with except in the case of some Sindhi bulls which corn or grass-alfalfa silage, plus hay and concen- would not work with AI. Sindhi sires were trates. Feeding was somewhat higher at Belts- those imported from India and their descen- ville, 100 to 115% of Morrison's Feeding dents. Crossbred sires were largely from the Standards while at Jeanerette it was 90 to 100% Beltsville herd while Brown Swiss, Holsteins, of the same standards (16). and Jerseys were from a number of AI studs. The disparity in number of daughters per sire in some groups was more than desired (Table 1) Measures of Reproductive Performance but could not be avoided because of limitations Measures of reproductive performance were: in Sindhi sires or linebreeding programs in the age at puberty, determined as the first estrus Jersey herds. observed following 12 mo of age; number of TABLE 2.