A comparison of crossbred calves by Simmental and Friesian sires for some beef production traits

Abstract

Hereford cows of mixed age and from the same herd in the south-east of South Australia, were mated to Simmental and Friesian sires in two consecutive years. Calving performance of 129 females and growth and carcase characteristics of their progeny were examined. Breed-of-sire differences in calving assistance and calf deaths were not significant. Assistance was given in 4.5 and 6.5 per cent of the Simmental and Friesian calvings respectively over the two calf drops. The percentage of calves dead at birth, or within twenty-four hours of birth, sired by Simmental and Friesian sires was 8.8 and 10.9 per cent respectively. Both before and after weaning, the growth rates of progeny sired by Simmental and Friesian bulls were similar, except in one pre-weaning period when the Simmental cross steers grew significantly faster than the Friesian cross steers. At both the 8 to 9- and 20 to 21 -month-old slaughterings, steers of either parentage had similar carcase weight, length and fat cover. However, the Simmental cross carcases had a significantly larger eye-muscle area. At both slaughterings, carcases of both crosses were leaner than desired by the local Adelaide market. We concluded that sires of the Simmental and Friesian breeds may be suitable as terminal sires in crossbreeding programmes, but that their role in the production of first-cross cows from the traditional purebred beef cow herds needs investigating.