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Gestation Length and Birth Weight in Cattle and Buffaloes: A Review^{1, 2,}

Department of Dairy Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

ABSTRACT

The present review of literature summarizes in table form the available information about gestation length and birth weight in cattle and buffaloes. Both gestation length and birth weight vary greatly among breeds. In cattle, Aberdeen Angus seem to have the shortest gestation length (273 days) and Brown Swiss the longest (292 days), whereas buffaloes have gestation lengths of over 300 days. Younger cows generally have calves of lighter weight, whereas the evidence of the influnce of age on length of gestation is more divided. In almost all cases male calves are heavier than female calves, but sex of the calf has been found to have less or, in some cases, no influence on length of gestation. Most of the heritability estimates for gestation length vary from 0.25 to 0.50, whereas the heritability of birth weight is somewhat lower. There is a positive relationship between gestation length and birth weight.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director as paper No. 1708, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, Lincoln. This is a contribution from Regional Project NC-2, Improvement of Dairy Cattle Through Breeding.

² Data taken from a thesis presented to the Graduate College by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree.

³ Present address: Institute of Artificial Insemination, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural College, Copenhagen, Denmark.