Beef embryos in dairy cows: calfhood growth of Angus-sired calves from Holstein, Jersey, and crossbred beef dams

• Published in: Translational animal science 2023-01, Vol.7 (1), p.txad096-txad096
• Main Authors: Fuerniss, Luke K, Young, J Daniel, Hall, Jerica R, Wesley, Kaitlyn R, Benitez, Oscar J, Corah, Larry R, Rathmann, Ryan J, Johnson, Bradley J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Growth Biology
• ISSN: 2573-2102; 2573-2102
• DOI: 10.1093/tas/txad096

Abstract Improved reproductive management has allowed dairy cow pregnancies to be optimized for beef production. The objective of this sire-controlled study was to characterize the effects of beef or dairy maternal genetics and the dairy management system on calf growth. Pregnancies were created with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of dam breed (Holstein or Jersey) and mating type (artificial insemination or implantation of an in vitro produced embryo from a commercial beef cow oocyte). Resulting calves were reared in a calf ranch. Additionally, commercial beef cows were inseminated and reared resulting calves on range. Therefore, the five treatments were Angus × Holstein (A × H; n = 19), Angus × Jersey (A × J; n = 22), Angus × beef gestated by Holstein (H ET; n = 18), Angus × beef gestated by Jersey (J ET; n = 8), and Angus × beef raised by beef (A × B; n = 20). Beginning at birth, calf body weight, cannon circumference, forearm circumference, top width, hip width, and hip height were measured approximately every 28 d until ~196 d of age. At birth, A × J calves weighed the least (P