Crossbreeding trial with Charolais, Blond d'Aquitaine and Limousin on Fleckvieh cows - 1st communication: Calving and fattening performance

From Charolais (Ch), Blond d'Aquitaine (BA), Limousin (Li) and from the dua l-purpose breed Fleckvieh (FV), respectively, 10 test bulls were used on FV cows in Bavaria. From the produced animals the sire breeds were examined f or calving ease and fattening performance. Gestation was only lengthened by BA (+2,7 days) and Li (+1,3). The calving rate with veterinarian help" was highest in Ch (6,4%), followed by BA 1,9% > FV 1,8% > Li 1,2%. The FV cont rol had the highest rate of calf losses (4,9%) and the beef breeds ranked i n the same order as in veterinarian help. Ch 3,0% > BA 3,2% > Li 2,3%. The bulls (n=375) were fattened on maize silage plus concentrate in two intensi ty levels up to the final age of 500 days (Ch and BA) and of 466 days (Li a nd FV), respectively. Their final weights varied from 602 kg (Li) to 674 kg (Ch). The heifers were fattened in two methods: one half was kept constant ly indoors and fed on grass cobs and concentrate. The other half of the hei fers was kept for one periode on pasture. On average of the two fattening m ethods the heifer groups reached a final age of 513 days (FV and Li) and of 548 days (Ch and BA). The final weight of the heifers varied from 441 kg ( Li) to 520 kg (Ch). In daily gain from purchase of calves (age 5 to 7 weeks ) up to the final age, the FV control obtained with bulls and heifers 1253 g and 850 g, respectively. FV was only exceeded by Ch (+25 and +14 g), whil e BA (-44 and -38 g) and Li (-33 and -72 g) gained less than FV. In age of maturity there could be found the following order: FV < Li < Ch < BA. In th e measurement of the individual feed intake with 64 animals the crossbreed groups needed, compared with FV, 7 to 5% less energy (ME) per kg weight gai n.