HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nichols, J. R. Articles by White, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Nichols, J. R. Articles by White, J. M.

Dairy Beef

Correlation of Meat and Milk Traits in Dairy Cattle¹

Department of Dairy Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park

ABSTRACT

Highly specialized breeds of cattle that are extremely efficient in the production of either milk or beef have resulted from years of selective breeding. American beef and dairy cattle are generally higher producers than cattle in other parts of the world due, in part at least, to years of rigid selection for the single-purpose trait. A significant portion of the nation's beef, however, comes from dairy cattle. Many dairymen are beginning to look upon this as an added source of income, especially since males constitute one-half of the annual calf crop. Evaluation of the beef qualities of these male dairy calves is a pertinent consideration.

Dual-purpose breeds are not as popular here as abroad. They generally do not produce as much milk as dairy cattle. Neither are they considered to be as good for beef production as animals of the beef breeds. Are the differences in production between beef, dairy, and dual-purpose cattle expressions of real genetic differences affecting physiological functions which may be incompatible?