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Body Size of Calves from Holstein Dams and Sired by Holstein or Angus Bulls¹

Dairy Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing

ABSTRACT

The influence of breed of sire on birth size of calves was determined from measurements on 687 calves from Holstein dams. Ten Holsteins sired 491 (H-H) calves that averaged 93 lb, 30.8 in. heart girth, and 5.1 in. maximum width of head. Four Angus sired 196 (A-H) calves with comparable averages of 79 lb, 29.3 in., and 5.0 in., respectively. Analysis of covariance, adjusting size of calf for size of dam, revealed that H-H calves were significantly larger in body weight, heart girth, and head width than calves sired by Angus bulls (P < 0.01). Two Holstein bulls sired significantly larger calves than the eight other Holsteins and one Angus bull sired significantly smaller calves than the three other Angus.

The average length of gestation was significantly different between breeds and between bulls within breeds (P < 0.01). Gestation length, age, and size of dam were significantly correlated with size of calves (P < 0.01), but these coefficients were too small to be of much value in predicting birth size of calves.

Calving difficulties occurred in 26 births, but the incidence (1.5% for A-H calves and 4.7% for H-H calves) seemed rather low and could not be attributed to particular sires within breeds.

¹ Paper no. 3616 from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.