Growth performance of some beef cattle breed groups in Ninh Thuan province
This study aims at evaluating the growth performance of 4 groups of beef cattle born and raised under the conditions of Ninh Thuan province. There are 4 breed groups of beef cattle those are evaluated as pure Brahman born by artificial insemination (group 1), Brahman crossbred born by natural mating (group 2), Brahman crossbred born by artificial insemination (group 3) and Red Angus crossbred born by artificial insemination (group 4). The results showed that birth weight ranged from 29.13 to 31.96 kg/calf and there were no significant differences amongst 4 breed groups of beef cattle. However, from 3 months of age to 18 months of age, the their body weights were significantly different amongst them, in which at 18 months of age, the lowest was found in group 2 (336.65 kg/calf), followed by group 3 (361.90kg/calf), group 4 (367.57kg/calf) and the highest body weight was found in the group of pure Brahman (382.38kg/calf). Average daily gain in 4 breed groups of beef cattle from birth to 18 months old ranged from 568.81g/calf/day in group 2 to 648.51g/calf/day in group 1. It was concluded that the above-mentioned 4 breed groups of beef beef cattle had good growth performance under management conditions in Ninh Thuan province, including pure Brahman cattle. Brahman bulls can be used to develop beef cattle in areas where artificial insemination is difficult to apply.
