Volume 16, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Res Anim Prod 2025, 16(1): 132-142 |
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Shakeri P, Khamisabadi H, Bahrami Yekdangi M, Abasy Firouzjaei M, Shakeri A A. (2025). Comparison of the Performance Between the Montbiliard × Holstein Crossbred and Holstein Calves in Hot and Humid Areas. Res Anim Prod. 16(1), 132-142. doi:10.61186/rap.16.1.132
URL: http://rap.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1470-en.html
URL: http://rap.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1470-en.html
Pirouz Shakeri *1 
, Hassan Khamisabadi2, Mehdi Bahrami Yekdangi2, Mahdi Abasy Firouzjaei2, Amir Ali Shakeri3
, Hassan Khamisabadi2, Mehdi Bahrami Yekdangi2, Mahdi Abasy Firouzjaei2, Amir Ali Shakeri3
1- Animal, Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
2- Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
3- Veterinary student of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Karaj, Iran
2- Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
3- Veterinary student of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Karaj, Iran
Abstract: (113 Views)
Extended Abstract
Background: A reason for crossbreeding is to combine desirable traits from two or more different breeds, and a specific beef breed may transfer superior genes of growth, feed efficiency, and dressing percentage to crossbred animals, leading to the superiority of the resulting hybrid animals over purebred animals due to heterosis. Some other beneficial results of crossbreeding include selecting beneficial genes from other breeds and eliminating the undesirable effects of inbreeding. This study aimed to compare feedlot performance between the male Montbiliard × Holstein (M × H) crossbred and purebred Holstein (H) calves over 6 months in hot and humid conditions of Iran.
Methods: The experiment was carried out at the national research and development cattle station of Gawdasht in the suburbs of Babol, Mazandaran Province. For this purpose, 23 male calves (165.3 ± 35.33 kg BW), including 10 H and 13 M × H males, were assigned to one of the two treatments in a completely randomized design. The calves were kept individually in 3 × 3 m pens with free access to feed and water. The diets of experimental calves were formulated based on the nutritional needs of fattening calves during two subsequent experimental periods using common feeds. The calves were fed two times daily in equal portions at 8:00 and 16:00 with a total mixed ration. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the experiment after fasting for 8 h, and recording was repeated at 30-day intervals thereafter. Dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber digestibility were measured during the first 5 days of the 6th month of the fattening period using the difference in the concentration of AIA in feed and feces. In the last experimental day, blood samples were collected from the tail veins of calves to measure some serum parameters, including urea, urea nitrogen, triglyceride, total protein, and albumin. All variables were statistically analyzed using the mixed-model procedure of the statistical analysis systems in a completely randomized design. Animals were expected as the random effect in the experimental model. The means were compared using Tukey’s multiple comparisons procedure with an error level of 5%.
Results: In the 6-month fattening period, there was no difference in the average dry matter intake in kg/day and also as a percentage of body weight between M × H calves and H calves (8.356 vs. 7.967 kg/d and 3.23 vs. 3.50 % of BW in M × H and H calves, respectively). However, the average daily gain of M × H calves (1.357 kg/d) tended to be higher (P = 0.08) than H calves (1.190 kg/d). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better in M×H calves (6.41) (P=0.04) than in H calves (7.73), and significant changes in FCR were observed during the fattening period in both groups, with an increase as the calves aged (P < 0.01).
There was no significant difference in the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber between the two experimental groups. The addition, the concentrations of urea nitrogen, triglyceride, total protein, and blood serum albumin of M × H calves were similar to H calves and within the normal range of reported parameters for healthy cattle. However, the glucose concentration in the blood serum of M × H calves tended to be higher than in H calves (P = 0.06).
Conclusion: In a fattening period of 6 months, M × H calves showed 14.0 % more weight gain and 17.1 % better FCR than H calves, while they had similar feed consumption. Therefore, cross-breeding between Montbiliard and Holstein cows can be a successful strategy to improve beef production by producing commercial calves for slaughter.
Background: A reason for crossbreeding is to combine desirable traits from two or more different breeds, and a specific beef breed may transfer superior genes of growth, feed efficiency, and dressing percentage to crossbred animals, leading to the superiority of the resulting hybrid animals over purebred animals due to heterosis. Some other beneficial results of crossbreeding include selecting beneficial genes from other breeds and eliminating the undesirable effects of inbreeding. This study aimed to compare feedlot performance between the male Montbiliard × Holstein (M × H) crossbred and purebred Holstein (H) calves over 6 months in hot and humid conditions of Iran.
Methods: The experiment was carried out at the national research and development cattle station of Gawdasht in the suburbs of Babol, Mazandaran Province. For this purpose, 23 male calves (165.3 ± 35.33 kg BW), including 10 H and 13 M × H males, were assigned to one of the two treatments in a completely randomized design. The calves were kept individually in 3 × 3 m pens with free access to feed and water. The diets of experimental calves were formulated based on the nutritional needs of fattening calves during two subsequent experimental periods using common feeds. The calves were fed two times daily in equal portions at 8:00 and 16:00 with a total mixed ration. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the experiment after fasting for 8 h, and recording was repeated at 30-day intervals thereafter. Dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber digestibility were measured during the first 5 days of the 6th month of the fattening period using the difference in the concentration of AIA in feed and feces. In the last experimental day, blood samples were collected from the tail veins of calves to measure some serum parameters, including urea, urea nitrogen, triglyceride, total protein, and albumin. All variables were statistically analyzed using the mixed-model procedure of the statistical analysis systems in a completely randomized design. Animals were expected as the random effect in the experimental model. The means were compared using Tukey’s multiple comparisons procedure with an error level of 5%.
Results: In the 6-month fattening period, there was no difference in the average dry matter intake in kg/day and also as a percentage of body weight between M × H calves and H calves (8.356 vs. 7.967 kg/d and 3.23 vs. 3.50 % of BW in M × H and H calves, respectively). However, the average daily gain of M × H calves (1.357 kg/d) tended to be higher (P = 0.08) than H calves (1.190 kg/d). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better in M×H calves (6.41) (P=0.04) than in H calves (7.73), and significant changes in FCR were observed during the fattening period in both groups, with an increase as the calves aged (P < 0.01).
There was no significant difference in the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber between the two experimental groups. The addition, the concentrations of urea nitrogen, triglyceride, total protein, and blood serum albumin of M × H calves were similar to H calves and within the normal range of reported parameters for healthy cattle. However, the glucose concentration in the blood serum of M × H calves tended to be higher than in H calves (P = 0.06).
Conclusion: In a fattening period of 6 months, M × H calves showed 14.0 % more weight gain and 17.1 % better FCR than H calves, while they had similar feed consumption. Therefore, cross-breeding between Montbiliard and Holstein cows can be a successful strategy to improve beef production by producing commercial calves for slaughter.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
مدیریت دامپروری و تولید
Received: 2024/07/10 | Accepted: 2024/10/12
Received: 2024/07/10 | Accepted: 2024/10/12
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