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Growth and feed efficiency of range performance tested beef bulls in the arid sweet bushveld of South Africa

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Data consisting of test performance records of 725 bulls was analysed to evaluate trends for growth and feed efficiency, and to determine environmental factors that influence growth of range performance tested bulls in the arid sweet bushveld of South Africa. Performance data were subjected to regression procedures to estimate parameters of the slope (β) and intercept (α) for average daily gain (ADG) and Kleiber ratio (KR). Mixed procedures were applied to test for sources of variation in ADG and KR. There was an increase of 3.481 g/day/year and 0.528 g/day/ year in ADG for Nguni and Bonsmara bulls, respectively. The ADG trends’ respective feed efficiency as reflected by KR was 0.093 and 0.059. Herd of origin and test-year were the sources of variation for ADG while the variation in KR was due to the herd of origin, test-year, start-age and start-weight. Results indicated a steady increase in ADG and KR for range performance tested bulls in the arid sweet bushveld.

Source: Open Journal of Animal Sciences

DOI: 10.4236/ojas.2012.24036

Authors: Lesley Mashiloane, Andre Bothma, Kabelo Madia, Julius Sebei, Khathutshelo Nephawe

Institution: Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Language: English

Topic: Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W2076044444

FWCI:

Cites: 16

Cited by: 5

Related to: 10