Heterosis and Breed Maternal and Transmitted Effects in Beef Cattle

Authors

Keith E. Gregory, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center
Larry V. Cundiff, U.S. Meat Animal Research CenterFollow
Robert M. Koch, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Date of this Version

1982

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published in Beef Research Program Progress Report (1982) No. 1: 6

Abstract

Heterosis has been shown to have important effects on most economic traits of beef cattle. This is a report of the results from the first phase of an experiment designed to evaluate heterosis and breed maternal and transmitted effects on economic traits of beef cattle and involves some combinations of breeds not previously included in crossbreeding experiments. Results are reported on preweaning traits, growth rate and puberty in females, growth traits in steers, and carcass traits of steers produced in an experimental design that included the straightbreds and all possible crosses of the Red Poll, Brown Swiss (European and domestic), Hereford, and Angus breeds.