Effect of suckling on growth and quantitative and qualitative carcass traits of once-calved heifers

Heifers (n = 72) from four breed-types were used to evaluate the effect of breed-type and parity/weaning age on growth performance and carcass charact eristics of the heifers. Breed-types studied were Japanese Black (B), BxHol stein (BHo), BxBHo (BBHo), and Japanese Shorthorn (S)xB (SB); whereas parit y/weaning age treatments included maiden heifers and two once-calved heifer groups in which calves weaned at either 7 or 105 days. Growth performance of the once-calved heifers was inversely proportional to the milking abilit y of the heifers. Differences of carcass quality were significant (P < 0.05 ) among breed-types, but not significant (P > 0.05) among parity/weaning ag e groups by finishing for 180 days after weaning the calves. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.