Abstract
The present study was carried out to find out the production potentials of 50% Brahman
breeding bulls and the performance of 25% Brahman calves' for beef production. According
to survey per farmer family had 3.08 heads of cattle in which 58% were local and 42% of
Crossed/Upgraded and had 0.95, 0.74, 0.64 and 0.75% of cows, bull, heifers and calves,
respectively. Milk production of local and upgraded cows ranged from 2 to 8kg per day.
Only 11% farmers had own feed source, whereas 68% was collected feeds from out sources.
About 59% farmers bred their cattle artificially while 26 and 15% of natural and both means
of breeding, respectively. The average ejaculate volume of semen was 5.12 ml; and mass
motility (MM), semen concentration (SC), normal spermatozoa (NS) and live spermatozoa
(LS) was 69%, 1151 million/cc, 90% and 83%, respectively. The non return rate (NRR) and
selection intensity was 90% and 2.263. The average birth weight of 50% male and female
calves was 22.50±0.36 and 20.24±0.29kg, respectively, in which males were 2.26kg heavier in
birth weight than the female ones. The birth weight of 25% male calves was 18.97±0.10kg
and females of 18.18±0.12kg, wherever the males were also 4% heavier in birth weight. It
was revealed that the 50% Brahman calves were relatively larger (p<0.05) in respect of birth
weight and merely 15% heavier than that of 25% Brahmans. The average yearling weight
(YWT) was 209.29±1.74kg for 25% and 229.62±2.08kg for 50% and, having that 50%
Brahmans progressively increased 10% in live weight than 25%. Comparatively rapid
growth for 50% Brahman was found to be 570.52±5.19g/d than 529.98±4.54g/d for 25%
(p<0.001). The heritability for BWT, WT3, WT6, WT, and WT12 were moderate (ranging from
0.43 to 0.48) and the same for ADG was high (0.50) in growth period at 0 to 3 months of age
and moderate at other stage of growth (ranging from 0.29 to 0.47). The genetic correlations
between the weights at different stages of 25% Brahman calves were found to be highly
correlated to each other (ranging from 0.52±0.36 to 0.81±0.22), whereas, the phenotypic
correlations between them were found to be moderate to high (ranging from 0.43 to 0.65).
The genetic and phenotypic correlations between average daily gains at different stages of
growth of 25% Brahman calves were positively and highly correlated among themselves (rg
ranged from 0.78±0.29 to 0.88±0.18 and rp ranged from 0.52 to 0.71). Strong heritability
estimates and positive genetic and phenotypic correlations between growth traits indicating
selection for birth weight will be fruitful for getting heavier weight at subsequent ages. It
may be concluded that estimated growth performance and conception rate of indigenous
cow with no calving difficulties (dystocia) may have practical interest with farmers for
upgrading indigenous cattle with Brahman inheritance for fattening purpose.