Postweaning growth of brahman and santa gertrudis steers under feedlots in the subtropics

Takahashi, J.; Rojas, S. S.; Castellani, P. G.; Denis, F. C.

doi:1988.1.3.149

Article

Ruminant Nutrition and Forage Utilization

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 1988;1(3): 149-152.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.1988.149 Published online September 1, 1988.

Postweaning growth of brahman and santa gertrudis steers under feedlots in the subtropics

J. Takahashi, S. S. Rojas, P. G. Castellani, F. C. Denis

Abstract

Postweaning performances of steer from 11 to 18 months of age under intensive feedlot condition were examined in Brahman and Santa Gertudis cattle breeds which have been established in Paraguay. Fitting of growth data in each breed to an empirical growth model with non-linear least square analysis resulted in the following age(t; months) - weight(w; kg) function made out each breed: w=638.26(1-2.341e-0.010965t) for Brahman and w=716.38(1-2.365e-0.10741t) for Santa Gertrudis. The estimated mature size of Brahman steers(638 kg) was 11% lower than that of Santa Gertrudis steers(716 kg). However, slightly larger k value (rate of maturing) of Brahman steer in the mechanistic model suggested relatively earlier maturing tendency in the breed. No significant differences in dressing percentage (Brahman, 59.3%; Santa Gertrudis, 58.8%) of chilled carcass weight to live-weight were observed between breed.

Keywords: Postweaning Growth; Feedlot; Brahman; Santa Gertrudis; Mechanistic Model