Growth performance of three groups of F1 crossbreds between Brahman, Droughtmaster and Red Angus with Lai Sind cows in Ben Tre province
The experiment was carried out to evaluate the growth performance of three groups of F1 crossbreds between Brahman, Droughtmaster and Red Angus with Lai Sind cows under breeding conditions in Ben Tre province. Each crossbred group has 30 F1 heads, of which F1 Brahman includes 11 males and 19 females, F1 Droughtmaster includes 11 males and 19 females, F1 Red Angus includes 13 males and 17 females. The study period included the growth period from birth to 18th month of age and the fattening period from 18th to 21st month of age. The results showed that the body weight of the F1 Red Angus and F1 Droughtmaster crossbreds was higher than that of the F1 Brahman (P<0.05) at the time from birth to 18th month of age. At 18th month of age, the body weight of the F1 Red Angus was the highest (410.43 kg), followed by the F1 Droughtmaster (395.63 kg) and the lowest was the F1 Brahman (345.53 kg). There was no difference in body weight between the F1 Red Angus and F1 Droughtmaster during the growing period (P>0.05). Daily weight gain of the crossbred groups was similar from birth to 6th month of age (P>0.05). However, from 6th to 18th month of age, the daily weight gain of the F1 Red Angus and F1 Droughtmaster was higher than that of the F1 Brahman (P<0.05). When calculated over the entire period from birth to 18th month of age, the daily weight gain was 595.5; 678.5 and 705.9 g/head/day in F1 Brahman, Red Angus and Droughtmaster, respectively. During the fattening period, the daily weight gain of the treatments was similar, ranging from 1,047 - 1,108 g/head/day. The economic efficiency of fattening reaches from 3.2 to 4.6 million/head and the F1 Red Angus crossbred has the highest economic efficiency, followed by F1 Droughtmaster and finally F1 Brahman. Through the study, it can be concluded that the Red Angus and Droughtmaster crossbreds have good growth potential in the farming conditions of farmers in Ben Tre.
