Maternal Effects in Four Diverse Breeds of 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

1985

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published in Beef Research Program Progress Report (1985) No. 2: 20-22

Abstract

Differences between reciprocal crosses are the result of breed differences in prenatal maternal effects and/or breed differences in postnatal maternal effects. Breed differences in postnatal maternal effects are well documented and are mediated through breed differences in milk production and perhaps through other maternal factors. Breed differences in prenatal maternal effects have received less attention by research interests than breed differences in postnatal maternal effects. Breed differences in prenatal maternal effects may be caused by either differences in ovum cytoplasm or by differences in uterine environment or by both. In most reports of experimental results, the prenatal and postnatal components of maternal effects have been confounded, as is the case for the results reported here.