Relationship between heterosis, weight gain, and body measurements of Nellore and Charolais calves

Authors

  • Tiago Albandes Fernandes Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel, Departamento de Zootecnia, Campus Capão do Leão, s/no, CEP 96160-000 Pelotas, RS.
  • Liliane Cerdótes Instituto Federal Catarinense, Departamento de Zootecnia, Campus de Santa Rosa do Sul, Avenida Nascimento José da Rosa, Vila Nova, CEP 88965-000 Santa Rosa do Sul, SC.
  • Ricardo Zambarda Vaz Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Zootecnia, Campus Palmeira das Missões, Avenida Independência, no 3.751, Vista Alegre, CEP 98300-000 Palmeira das Missões, RS.
  • João Restle Universidade Federal de Goiás, Faculdade de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Zootecnia, Campus Samambaia, Avenida Esperança, s/no, Chácaras de Recreio Samambaia, CEP 74690-900 Goiânia, GO.
  • Otoniel Geter Lauz Ferreira Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel, Departamento de Zootecnia, Campus Capão do Leão, s/no, CEP 96160-000 Pelotas, RS.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2020.v55.26822

Keywords:

biometry, beef calves, complementarity, crossbred, growth

Abstract

The objective of this work was to assess the effect of genetic group and heterosis on the relationship between body weight and morphometric measurements, in purebred and crossbred animals from the second (G2) and third (G3) generations of Nellore and Charolais calves. Body weight (BW), average daily weight gain (ADG), foreleg circumference (FC), thoracic girth (TG), body length (BL), and croup height (CH) were measured at birth and at 63, 210, and 365 days of age in animals from G2 and G3. Charolais animals were superior to Nellore ones for gains BW, ADG, BL, and TG, as well as for the ratio between BW gain and CH gain; Nellore animals were superior for CH gains. Crossbred animals of both generations were superior to the purebred animals for gains of BW, BL, and CH. In G2, the predominance of Charolais genes resulted in greater gains of BW, ADG, FC, and TG. The G3 animals were superior to the purebred animals for ADG, FC, and TG. No differences were found for the ratio between gains of weight and morphometric measurements. Heterosis and complementarity are apparent for weight and body measurements of crossbred calves from rotational crossings.

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Published

2020-12-11

How to Cite

Fernandes, T. A., Cerdótes, L., Vaz, R. Z., Restle, J., & Ferreira, O. G. L. (2020). Relationship between heterosis, weight gain, and body measurements of Nellore and Charolais calves. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 55(X), e01821. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2020.v55.26822

Issue

V.55, Jan./Dec., 2020 :Continuos publication

Section

ANIMAL SCIENCE