A comparison of progeny tests with sires tested on different cow herds and under different
environmental conditions
by Ray R Woodward
A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate Committee in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Science in Animal Industry
Montana State University
© Copyright by Ray R Woodward (1947)
Abstract:
This study was undertaken to analyze the results of one phase of record of performance work in beef
cattle. Eleven Hereford sires, raised by the United States Range Livestock Experiment Station at Miles
City, Montana, were bred to cows in the herd at that Station one year, and either the next year or soon
thereafter were bred to cows in the North Montana Branch Station herd at Havre, Montana. Growth and
feed lot records of the two steer progenies from the same sire were then available for comparison.
Four factors were considered in the comparison of the two records. They were birth weight, average
daily gain from birth to weaning, average gain in the feed lot and efficiency of gain in the feed lot.
Statistical analyses of the variation in weights and gains were made in each case.
There was a significant difference between stations in average daily gains from birth to weaning and
efficiency of gain in the feed lot. Significant differences between sire groups occurred in each analysis.
A significant sire X station interaction was observed in rate and efficiency of gain in the feed lot.
There was enough difference in the performance of the progeny from the same sire at the two stations
to cast some doubt on the methods of 'testing. Recommendations were made to standardize the record
of performance program to increase the accuracy of tests at different stations. A COMPARISON OF PROGENY TESTS
WITH SIRES- TESTED ON DIFFERENT COW HERDS AND
UNDER DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
by
RAY R. WOODWARD
.A THESIS
Subm itted t o th e G raduate Committee
in
p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e re q u ire m e n ts
f o r th e degree" o f
M aster o f S cience in Animal In d u s try
at
Montana S ta te C ollege
Approved*
In Charge o f Major Work
Chairman, Exam ining Committee
Bozeman, Montana
June, 19^7
/ 3
7 ?
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- 2 -
TABLE OF CONTEIiTS
Fage
ABSTRACT
3
INTRODUCTION
4
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
6
MATERIALS AND METHODS
8
DISCUSSION
13
SUMMARY
26
LITERATURE CITED AND CONSULTED
28
i
V
8133?
V
\
V
- S -
ABSTKACT
T his stu d y w as"undertaken to a n a ly z e th e r e s u l t s ' e f one phase o f
re c o rd o f perform ance work i n b e e f c a t t l e .
E lev en H erefo rd s i r e s ,
r a i s e d by th e U n ite d S ta te s IBange L iv e s to c k Experim ent S ta tio n a t
M iles C ity , M ontana, were b re d to cows i n •th e h e rd a t t h a t S t a t i o n one
y e a r , and e i t h e r th e n e x t y e a r o r soon t h e r e a f t e r were b re d t o cows i n
th e N orth Montana Branch S ta tio n h e rd a t H avre, M ontana.
Growth and
fe e d l o t re c o rd s o f th e two s t e e r p ro g e n ie s from th e same s i r e were th e n
■a v a il a b le f o r com parison.
Four- f a c t o r s were c o n sid e re d i n th e com parison o f th e two r e c o r d s .
They were b i r t h w e ig h t, a v erag e d a ily g a in from b i r t h t o w eaning,
a v erag e g a in i n th e fe e d l o t and e f f i c i e n c y o f g a in i n th e fe e d l o t .
S t a t i s t i c a l a n a ly s e s o f th e v a r i a t i o n in w e ig h ts and g a in s were made
i n each c a s e .
There was a s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e betw een s ta t i o n s i n a v erag e
d a i l y g a in s from b i r t h to w eaning and e f f i c i e n c y o f g a in i n th e fe e d
lo t.
S ig n i f ic a n t d if f e r e n c e s between s i r e g ro u p s o c c u rre d i n each
a n a ly s is .
A s i g n i f i c a n t s i r e X s t a t i o n i n t e r a c t i o n was o b serv ed i n
r a t e and e f f i c i e n c y o f g a in i n th e fe e d l o t .
There was enough d if f e r e n c e i n th e p erfo rm an ce o f th e p ro g en y from
th e same s i r e a t th e two s t a t i o n s to c a s t some doubt on th e m ethods o f
't e s t i n g .
Recommendations were made t o s ta n d a rd iz e th e r e c o r d o f
perform ance program to in c r e a s e th e a c c u ra c y o f t e s t s a t d i f f e r e n t
s ta tio n s .
- 4 -
INTRODUCTION
.
B eef c a t t l e , p ro b a b ly more .th an any o th e r c la s s o f liv e s to c k , a re
s e le c te d f o r b re e d in g p u rp o se s alm o st s o le l y on show r i n g and v is u a l
a p p r a is a l s ta n d a rd s .
The s e le c tio n o f d a i r y c a t t l e , f o r exam ple, has
lo n g been b ased on th e p ro d u c tio n r e c o rd o f th e cow o r th e fem ale
progeny o f a c e r t a i n b u l l .
C onform ation i s n o t o v e r-lo o k e d i n th e
s e l e c t i o n o f d e s ir a b le d a ir y c a t t l e , b u t em phasis i s p la c e d on th e
p ro d u c tio n r e c o r d .
I n c o n t r a s t , co n fo rm atio n i s p r a c t i c a l l y th e o n ly
f a c t o r c o n sid e re d i n th e s e le c tio n o f b e e f c a t t l e .
The o n ly o th e r
c o n s id e r a tio n i s a p o s s ib le a tte m p t to m a in ta in c e r t a i n l i n e s o f
b re e d in g , i n which c ase in b re e d in g may o r may n o t be done*,
However,
t h i s p r a c t i c e i s u s e d o n ly to m a in ta in o r improve c e r t a i n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
i n co n fo rm atio n t h a t th e b re e d e r f in d s d e s ir a b le .
W hile i t i s a d m itte d t h a t th e show r i n g h as b rought a b o u t
c o n s id e ra b le improvement o f b e e f c a t t l e , i t i s e v id e n t t h a t m ere v is u a l
a p p r a is a l i s n o t a s u f f i c i e n t m easure o f b e e f c a t t l e p e rfo rm an c e.
An
im p o rta n t d isa d v a n ta g e o f th e show r i n g a s a s ta n d a rd f o r s e l e c t i o n i s
th e p r a c t i c e o f f a t t e n i n g c a t t l e to th e extrem e i n o rd e r t o improve t h e i r
a p p e a ra n c e .
When th e s e c a t t l e a re th e n u sed on th e ra n g e , th e low ered
l e v e l o f fe e d in g f r e q u e n tly r e s u l t s i n tem p o rary s t e r i l i t y and com plete
i n a b i l i t y t o make a n a d ju stm en t to ra n g e c o n d itio n s .
T h is problem co u ld
be so lv e d by d is c o n tin u in g th e p r a c tic e o f h ig h ly " f i t t i n g " an im als f o r
th e show r i n g b u t i t i s d o u b tfu l t h a t a l l b re e d e rs would be w illin g t o
a c c e p t t h i s s o lu tio n .
For th e s e re a so n s numerous i n v e s t i g a t o r s a re
a tte m p tin g to develop o th e r s ta n d a rd s f o r t h e e v a lu a tio n o f t h i s c la s s
o f liv e s to c k .
- 5 -
The U n ite d ■S ta te s Bange L iv e s to c k E xperim ent S t a t i o n , a t M ile s C ity ,
M ontana, i n c o o p e ra tio n w ith th e Montana A g r ic u ltu r a l E xperim ent S t a tio n ,
in a u g u ra te d a program o f re c o rd o f perform ance f o r H erefo rd c a t t l e in
1936. . An a tte m p t i s b e in g made to d e term in e th e r a t e o f g a in , e f f ic ie n c y
o f g a in and c a r c a s s q u a l i t y o f th e progeny o f v a rio u s H e re fo rd s i r e s .
I t i s -hoped t h a t by t h i s experim ent a m ethod w i l l be ev o lv ed whereby
b e e f s i r e s and dams can be s e le c te d t o p ro d u ce r a p id g a in in g and
e f f i c i e n t c a lv e s .
O bviously th e p r e s e n t method o f show r i n g s e le c tio n
i s n o t com prehensive enough t o p e rm it p ro p e r e v a lu a tio n o f such economic
c h a r a c te r s .
At p r e s e n t th e r e c o rd o f perform ance work i s more o r l e s s i n an
e x p lo r a to r y s ta g e .
E x p e rim e n ta l s tu d ie s have shown t h a t th e r e a re
s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e s betw een th e progeny o f th e v a rio u s s i r e s i n
. a b i l i t y to make r a p id an d econom ical g a in s a s w e ll a s d if f e r e n c e s in .
th e c a rc a s s q u a l i t y o f s t e e r s s i r e d by v a rio u s b u lls t h a t have been
te s te d .
The o n ly d a ta , so f a r a s i s known, r e s u l t i n g from t e s t i n g th e
same s i r e on d i f f e r e n t cow h e rd s and under d i f f e r e n t e n v iro n m e n ta l
c o n d itio n s a r e in c lu d e d i n t h i s s tu d y .
- 6 -
HBTIEff QF LITERATURE
A re c o rd o f perform ance f o r b e e f c a t t l e was p ro b a b ly f i r s t o u tlin e d
by S h e e ts (1 0 ) and W in ters and McMahon ( l l ) .
The fo rm er su g g e ste d t h a t
e f f ic ie n c y o f g a in was one of th e prim e r e q u i s i t e s i n th e s e l e c t i o n o f
beef c a t t l e i
W in ters and McMahon in d iv id u a lly fe d a group o f s t e e r s f o r
196 days and d e term in e d t h a t th e r e was a h ig h c o r r e l a t i o n betw een r a t e
and e f f i c i e n c y o f g a in .
T his was co nfirm ed by B lack and Knapp ( l ) i .
They f u r t h e r s t a t e t h a t a v erag e d a ily g a in s from b i r t h to w eaning and
from w eaning to s la u g h te r a re n e g a tiv e ly c o r r e la te d .
T h is shows t h a t
a n im a ls which grow a t a g r e a te r r a t e w h ile on m ilk te n d t o g a in a t a
slo w er r a t e t h e r e a f t e r .
They found no c o r r e l a t i o n betw een economy o f
g a in from b i r t h t o w eaning and economy o f g a in from w eaning t o s la u g h te r .
P ontecorv o (9 ) found a h ig h c o r r e l a t i o n between w eig h ts o f b eef
and d u a l p u rp o se an im als a t 6 , 12 and 18 months o f ag e.
Thus a heavy
w eig h t a t 6 months o f age would in d ic a te a heavy w eight a t 1 8 months o f
age.
B lack and Knapp ( 2 ) , i n re v ie w in g s e v e r a l methods o f p ro g e n y t e s t i n g ,
co n clu d ed t h a t th e g r e a t e s t d if f e r e n c e s betw een progeny o f v a rio u s s i r e s
were ev id en ced d u rin g a fe e d in g p e rio d in which th e i n i t i a l w eig h ts
a v erag e d 500 pounds and th e f i n a l w e ig h ts av erag ed 900 p o unds,
Knapp e t a l . ( 5) , i n a s tu d y o f b e e f and d u a l p u rp o se c a t t l e ,
co n clu d ed t h a t o n ly a m inor p o r tio n o f th e v a r i a t i o n i n b i r t h w eight
can be a t t r i b u t e d to th e g e n e tic grow th p o t e n t i a l i t i e s o f th e c a l f .
Knapp and B lack (4 ) f u r t h e r d eterm in ed t h a t d if f e r e n c e s i n th e p ro g en y
o f s i r e s c o u ld n o t be d e term in e d d u rin g th e su c k lin g p e rio d .
Knapp e t . a l . ( 6 ) , i n sum m arizing some o f th e most com prehensive work
on re c o rd o f p e rfo rm a n c e , s t a t e t h a t th e i n h e r i t e d d if f e r e n c e s between
th e progeny o f v a rio u s s i r e s may be d em o n strated by weaning w e ig h ts , d a ily
g a in i n th e fe e d l o t , e f f i c i e n c y o f g a in i n th e fe e d l o t , d r e s s in g
p e rc e n ta g e and w eig h ts o f h e i f e r s a t 18 an d 30 months o f a g e.
p o in t i s i n agreem ent w ith th e work done by Pontecoryo ( 9 ) .
The l a t t e r
They f u r th e r
show t h a t th e sco re a t w eaning i s o f l i t t l e v a lu e i n p r e d ic tin g th e fu tu r e
r a t e o f e f f ic ie n c y o f g a in i n th e fe e d l o t .
T his i s c o n c re te evidence
■
t h a t v i s u a l a p p r a is a l i s n o t t o be h e a v ily r e l i e d upon a s a b a s is f o r
s e le c tio n of beef c a t t l e .
Knapp e t a l . ( 7 ) , r e p o r t t h a t a fe e d in g p e r io d o f 168 days was found
to be s u f f i c i e n t to i n d i c a t e d if f e r e n c e s betw een s i r e groups i n re c o rd o f
perform ance t e s t i n g .
They a ls o s t a t e t h a t e ig h t in d iv id u a lly fe d s t e e r s ■
from each s i r e a r e s u f f i c i e n t to g iv e a good t e s t o f a s i r e ' s a b i l i t y to
tr a n s m it e f f ic ie n c y o f fe e d u t i l i z a t i o n .
C la rk e t a l . ( 3 ) , i n a com parison o f b u lls from th r e e H e refo rd li n e s
o f b re e d in g , found a. d if f e r e n c e o f a s much a s 57 pounds i n w eaning w e ig h ts,
50 pounds i n fe e d l o t g a in s an d 103 pounds i n th e f i n a l w eig h t o u t o f th e
fe e d l o t , betw een th e s t e e r progeny o f th e v a rio u s s i r e s .
Knapp and Baker ( 8 ) , s t a t e t h a t f u l l fe e d in g o f s t e e r s i n re c o rd o f
perform ance t e s t s produced much m o re 'v a r ia b le g a in s between s i r e s th a n d id
li m i t e d fe e d in g .
They concluded t h a t ad lib itu m fe e d in g was th e b e s t
method to show d if f e r e n c e s i n a b i l i t y to g a in .
- BE x p e rim en ta l work rev iew ed i n t h i s s tu d y was conducted a t th e U n ited
S t a t e s Eange L iv e s to c k E xperim ent S t a t i o n a t M iles C ity , th e N orth Montana
Branch S t a t i o n , a t H avre, and th e Montana A g r ic u ltu r a l E xperim ent S ta t i o n ,
a t Bozeman, M ontana,
C ity and Bozeman.
M iles C ity h e rd .
The s t e e r p ro g e n ie s o f 11 b u lls were f e d o u t a t 'M iles
The b u lls were a l l p u re b re d H erefo rd s r a i s e d i n th e
The f i r s t w in te r a f t e r b i r t h th e y were in d iv id u a lly fe d
a t M iles C ity and th e fo llo w in g summer b re d to a group o f cows.
was p la c e d i n a p a s tu r e w i t h .o n ly th e cows a s s ig n e d to h i s h e rd .
Each b u ll
The
s t e e r s from th e s e m a tin g s were th e n in d iv id u a lly fe d a t M iles C ity a s
c a lv e s t o d e term in e t h e i r re c o rd o f p erfo rm an ce.
These b u lls were th e n
ta k e n t o H avre, g e n e r a lly a s tw o -y e a r-o ld s , and th e same b re e d in g
p ro c e d u re was fo llo w e d a t t h i s s t a t i o n w ith th e N orth Montana Branch
S t a t i o n h e rd o f g rad e H e re fo rd s .
The second s t e e r p ro g e n ie s were th e n
sh ip p ed to Bozeman and fe d a s c a lv e s .
The re c o rd s o f th e perform ance
o f th e s e two progeny groups se rv e a s th e b a s is o f com parison betw een th e
two t e s t s .
Eandom s e l e c t i o n was u sed b oth t o d e te rm in e th e cows f o r th e b re e d in g
h e rd s and th e s t e e r s u se d i n th e fe e d in g t r i a l s .
The b re e d in g seasons
a v erag e d a p p ro x im a te ly 50 d a y s.
A ll o f th e cows were w in te re d on th e ra n g e to g e th e r and w ere fe d
e i t h e r a p r o te in supplem ent o r h ay .
C alv in g a ls o to o k p la c e on th e ra n g e .
The c a lv e s were w eighed and e a r -ta g g e d a s soon a s th e y were dropped.
The c a lv e s were s t a r t e d on fe e d s h o r t l y a f t e r w eaning.
A p re lim in a ry
t r i a l o f a p p ro x im a te ly two weeks p re c ed e d th e r e g u la r t r i a l f o r th e purpose
o f a llo w in g th e c a lv e s t o become accustom ed to th e r a t i o n and fe e d l o t i
- 9 -
I f p o s s ib le e ig h t s t e e r s were used from each s i r e group a s a c c o rd in g to
Knapp e t a l . ( 7 ) .
The i n i t i a l and f i n a l w e ig h ts were th e a v erag e o f
th r e e s u c c e s s iv e w eighings made a t - t h e b e g in n in g and end o f th e fe e d in g
tria l.
In te rm e d ia te w e ig h ts were ta k e n e v ery 28 days.
I n th e p ro c e d u re s m entioned above th e h a n d lin g o f th e s t e e r s was
q u ite s im ila r a t Bozeman and M iles C ity .
The p r in c ip a l v a r ia b le s in
m ethods o f t e s t i n g were th e le n g th o f th e fe e d in g p e rio d s and th e r a t i o n s
fe d .
V a ria b le s o th e r th a n th o s e i n methods o f fe e d in g were th e u s e o f
d i f f e r e n t cow h e r d s , d i f f e r e n t e n v iro n m e n ta l c o n d itio n s and d i f f e r e n t
y e a rs f o r t e s t i n g .
The r a t i o n s fe d a t M ile s C ity and Bozeman a r e shown i n T able I .
A pproxim ately th e same fe e d s were o f f e r e d i n each t e s t .
The o n ly
in s ta n c e i n which a p r o t e i n supplem ent was n o t in c lu d e d a s a p a r t o f th e
c o n c e n tra te i n th e r a t i o n was i n 1940 a t M ile s C ity .
Corn was u sed fo r
th e g r a in p o r tio n o f th e c o n c e n tra te a t M ile s C ity and b a r le y was fe d
a t Bozeman.
The roughage fe d a t b o th s t a t i o n s was a l f a l f a .
The only
e x c e p tio n o c c u rre d th e l a s t two y e a rs a t Bozeman when n a tiv e hay was f e d .
S a l t and bonemeal were o f f e r e d i n a l l t r i a l s .
I n Table I I a r e g iv en th e r e g i s t e r e d names o f th e b u l l s w ith th e
y e a r t e s t e d a t each s t a t i o n .
For th e p u rp o se o f b r e v ity , th e s e b u lls
w i l l be r e f e r r e d t o by t h e i r number b ran d s i n t h i s p a p e r , a s i s commonly
done i n th e s t a t i o n s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h i s t e s t i n g program .
For exam ple,
ElB Domino 2nd i s known a s M iles C ity 44 o r M.G. 44.
These b u l l s a re a l l o f Domino b re e d in g b u t r e p r e s e n t two l i n e s o f
th e s t r a i n .
About o n e - h a lf o f them a r e p rogeny from a l i n e founded by
Advance Domino 2 0 th and Advance Domino 5 4 th .
The rem ain d er r e p r e s e n t a
10
T able I .
:
S ta tio n
: Year :
M iles C ity 1940
M le s C ity
1941
M iles C ity
1942
M iles C ity
1943
M ile s C ity
1944
Bozeman
1942
Bozeman
1943
Bozeman
1944
Bozeman
1945
E a tio n s and Methods o f Feeding
C o n c e n tra te s
I p a r t corn
I p a r t -b e e t p u lp
t
t
Hay
A lf a lf a
A lf a lf a
6 p a r t s corn
3 p a r t s b e e t p u lp
I p a r t -wheat bran
I p a r t lin s e e d o i l m eal .
A lf a lf a
6 p a r t s corn
3 p a r t s b e e t p u lp
I p a r t w heat bran
I p a r t li n s e e d o il.m e a l
A lf a lf a
6 p a r t s corn
3 p a r t s b e e t p u lp
I p a r t w heat bran
I p a r t lin s e e d o i l m eal
1 /2 p a r t a l f a l f a meal
A lf a lf a
6 p a r t s co rn
3 p a r t s b e e t p u lp
. I p a r t w heat bran
I p a r t lin s e e d o i l m eal
l / 2 p a r t a l f a l f a m eal
A lf a lf a
9 p a r t s b a r le y
9 p a r t s b e e t p u lp
2 p a r t s lin s e e d cake
' A lf a lf a
9 p a r t s b a rle y
9 p a r t s b e e t p u lp
2 p a r t s lin s e e d cake
N ative
9 p a r t s b a rle y
hay
9 p a r t s b e e t p u lp
2 p a r t s lin s e e d c a k e ■
N ativ e
9 p a r t s b a rle y
hay
9 p a r t s b e e t p u lp
I p a r t lin s e e d o i l meal
I p a r t soybean o i l m eal
l / 2 l b . a l f a l f a meal
i
:
Methods o f
Feeding
Hay 3-5 l b s .
G rain lim ite d
2 Bi days
.Hay and g ra in
f e d ad lib itu m
265 d a y s .
Hay and g ra in
f e d ad lib itu m
252 days
Hay and g r a in
fe d ad lib itu m
273 days
Hay and g ra in
f e d ad lib itu m
259 days
Hay and g ra in
f e d ad lib itu m
• 197 days
Hay and g ra in
f e d ad lib itu m
252' days
Hay and g ra in
f e d ad lib itu m
224 days
Hay and g r a in
fe d ad lib itu m
245 days
- 11 -
Table I I . R eg iste re d . Names o f B u lls T ested and
Y ear Used a t M iles G ity and Bozeman
R e g is te re d Name
o f b u ll
I
Brand
i Year T e sted
: Year T ested
•t a t M iles C ity : a t Bozeman
Baron Domino
M.C, 13
1940
1942
B a s il Domino
M.C. 16
1941
1942 ’
B ria n Domino
M.C. 20
1942 .
1944
Bourbon Domino
M.C. 21
1942
1944 .
C la y to n Domino
M.C. 28
' 1942
1943
B aldw in Domino
M.C. 31
1942
1945
B a x te r Domino
M.C. 32
1942
1944
KLB Domino 1 s t
M.C. 43
1944
LlB Domino 2nd
M.C. 44
1943
1944
Baldwin Domino 2nd
M.C. 47
1944 '
1945
.A-A Domino 2nd
M.C. 57
1944
1945
•
1945
‘
- 12 -
l i n e founded by Dandy Domino.
The c o e f f i c i e n t o f. in b re e d in g i n a l l o f
th e b u lls i s sm all and i n some c a se s n e g i i b l e .
- 13 -
DISCUSSION
The a v erag e b i r t h w eights' o f th e s t e e r s in c lu d e d i n th e fe e d in g t r i a l s
a t M iles C ity and Bozeman a r e giv en i n T ab le I I I .
I t m ust be s t a t e d
a g a in t h a t c a lv e s born and r a i s e d u n t i l w eaning a t th e Havre s t a t i o n were
s u b se q u e n tly fe d o u t a t Bozeman.
MiC.' 44 and M.C. 57 s i r e d th e c a lv e s w ith
th e h e a v ie s t b i r t h w e ig h ts , i f both s t a t i o n s a r e c o n sid e re d .
C alves by
M.C. 44 w eighed 8 9 .9 pounds a t b i r t h a t M iles C ity a n d '8 3 .6 pounds a t
H avre.
Almost e x a c tly th e same w e ig h ts were r e g i s t e r e d by th e M.C, 57
c a lv e s , b u t th e h e a v ie r group was dropped a t H avre.
The l i g h t e s t c a lv e s w ere th o s e from cows b re d to M.C. 13«
There was
a p p ro x im a te ly 9« 5 pounds d if f e r e n c e i n b i r t h w eig h ts betw een th e h e a v ie s t
and l i g h t e s t s i r e g ro u p s.
The h e a v ie s t c a lv e s were from M.C. 4 4 .
The
c a lv e s born a t th e Havre s t a t i o n a v erag e d a l i t t l e h e a v ie r th a n d id th o s e
dropped a t M iles C ity .
S ix o f th e e le v e n b u lls t e s t e d sd re d c a lv e s a t
Havre t h a t were h e a v ie r a t b i r t h th a n th o s e th e y s i r e d a t M ile s C ity .
The re m a in in g f iv e b u l l s had h e a v ie r c a lv e s a t M iles C ity .
— 14 —
S ire t
S ta tio n :
M.C.
t
i M.C.
72
•i
68
81
:
: '8 9
i
79
:
83
t
87
86
t
:
. 8 1 .8 7 7 .0 :
7 4 .3
*: M.C.
r M«C.
: 85
: 81
: 75
: 81
: 74
s 76
: 79
: 84
. :
79*4
8 0 .4
32
B.
90
79
87
82
82
86
76
70
8 1 .5
.
M.C. 43
M.C.
B.
98
80
75
79
80
82
83
69
85
95
84
75
80
83
81
72
8 1 .4
,
8 0 .6 8 2 .6
44
B.
91 ■
74
86
86
82
81
76
94
89 .9
8 3 .8
:
: M.C.
:
92
88
:
:
79'
:
87
89.
:
98
:
r
94
92
?
8 1 .3 :
20
B*
74
73
76
92
91
82
90
83
M.C.
M.C.
72
90
81
81
97
90
85
85
M.C. 21
B.
M.C.
102
75
82
59
75
84
108
82
86
83
76
80
96
75
78
80
7 8 .6
86 .5
M.C. 47
M.C. • B.
82
. 72
80
75
87
83
SI
70
81
72
66 • 78
91
79
84
. 95
7 7 .5
M.C. 57
M.C.
B.
80
72
107
' 91
87
53
82
90 '
93
87.
98
85
89
85 .
83
99 '
83 .6
8 2 .0
E
l / M iles C ity
2 / Bozeman
28
B.
78
76
84
86
85
91
93
75
ir\
cA
CO
M.C.
M.C.
90
82
81
85
79
77
75
85
S ire :
S ta tio n :
Avg.
16
B.
81
82
78
71
80
84
61
79
:
M.C., 13
,
: M .C .i/ B.f-/
90
: 75
: 64
71 ■
70
: 63
: 80
70
: 8?
75
: 77 ' 90
81
t 74
96
* 74
H.
to
Avg.
B ir th W eights i n Pounds o f S te e r s a t M iles C ity and Bozeman
O
Table I I I .
8 9 .0
M.C.
M.C.
80
78
■ 79
78
95
' 87 .
75
80
8 1 .5
31
B.
77
67
72
95
82
75
90
83
80 .1
- 15 -
T able IV. A n a ly sis o f V arian ce o f B ir th W eights o f S te e r s
a t M ile s C ity and B ozem n - (Mean S quares Only)
i
:
D egrees o f Freedom
Source o f V arian ce
Between S ta tio n s
Between s i r e groups
S ta tio n s X S ir e s
W ithin s i r e groups
*
.
Mean Spuares
72
13 7 .1 *
81 .5
6 8 .9
I
10
10
154
P i s l e s s th a n .05
An a n a ly s is o f v a ria n c e o f th e b i r t h w e ig h ts a t M iles C ity and
Bozeman i s shown i n Table IV.
The o n ly s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e o b ta in e d
was betw een s i r e g ro u p s, i n which P was l e s s th a n .0 5 .
Knapp e t a l . (5)
co ncluded t h a t b i r t h w eight was p r im a r ily an e x p re ss io n o f th e s i z e ,
w e ig h t, age and p h y s io lo g ic a l c o n s t i t u t i o n o f th e dam, and t h a t o n ly a
m inor p a r t o f th e v a r i a t i o n i n b i r t h w e ig h ts was due t o d i f f e r e n t
p o t e n t i a l i t i e s f o r grow th o f th e c a lv e s .
t h e e f f e c t o f th e s i r e .
The l a t t e r would be c o n sid e re d
T h e re fo re , th e r e s u l t s o f t h i s a n a ly s is were
ab o u t what c o u ld be e x p e c te d , c o n s id e rin g p re v io u s i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , as
o n ly a b a r e ly s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e betw een s i r e groups was o b ta in e d .
There was n o t a s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e i n b i r t h w eig h ts betw een s t a t i o n s ,
n o r was th e r e a s i r e X s t a t i o n i n t e r a c t i o n .
T able V in c lu d e s th e av erag e d a i l y g a in s from b i r t h t o weaning o f
a l l c a lv e s u s e d i n th e fe e d in g t r i a l s .
As was e x p e c te d , a g r e a te r s t a t i o n
in f lu e n c e was. e v id e n t i n av erag e d a ily g a in s th a n i n b i r t h w e ig h ts.
C alves from a l l b u t two o f th e s i r e s made h e a v ie r g a in s from b i r t h to
w eaning a t Havre th a n th e y d id a t M iles C ity .
Weaning w e ig h ts a t Havre
have been c o n s i s t e n t l y h e a v ie r thqn a t M iles C ity s in c e t h e M ile s •City'//.
,,, .
- 16 -
T able V.
S ire :
S ta tio n :
■
Avg.
t M. C., 13 . ,
: M.C.A/ B .i/
1 .4 8
: 1 .7 4
1 .9 9
: 1 .5 3
: 1 .4 8
1 .8 3
: 1 .9 6
1 .5 9
: 1 .7 8
1 .7 7
r 1 .9 1 ' 1 .9 6
2 .0 1
: 1 .7 3
1 .5 6
? 1 .7 3
' 1.73.
1 .7 7
D a ily G ains i n Pounds from B ir th to Weaning o f S te e r s
a t M iles C ity and Bozeman
M.C. 16
B.
M.C.
1 .3 9
1 .9 3
1 .9 6 ' 1 .7 5
1 .8 7
1 .9 5
2 .0 0
1 .6 5
2 .0 1
1 .9 1
2 .1 1
1 .6 1
1 .7 4
1 .5 1
1 .9 2
1 .8 7
M.C.
:
: M.C.
: 1 .6 1
@ 1 .6 4
t 1 .9 5
t 2 .3 0
: 2 .1 3
: 2 .0 0
: 2 .1 3
: 2 .0 5
1 .8 6
1 .7 9 : 1 .9 8
M.C.
M.C.'
1 .6 6
1 .3 5
1 .7 5
1 .5 2
2 .1 6
2 .0 2
1 .8 4
2 .0 4
43
B*
2 ,0 4
1 .3 7
2 .1 6
2 .2 4
2 .1 1
1 .7 7
1 .5 7
1 .4 5
1 .7 9
1 .8 4 : 1 .8 8
20
B.
2. 0$
1 .7 1
1 .8 3
2 .3 0
2 .1 3
1 .9 2
1 .6 7
1 .9 4
M.C.
M.C.
1 .7 0
1 .4 9
1 .7 7
2 .1 3
1 .8 8
1 .76
1 .8 2
1 .9 6
21
B.
2 .0 3
2 .1 4
1 .7 1
1 .9 7
1 .9 3
1 .9 9
1 .8 5
1.69
M.C.
M.C.
1 .7 2
2. 0$
2 .0 9
2 .1 4
1 .9 6
1 .8 9
1 .9 8
1 .9 8
28
B.
2 .3 2
1 .9 6
1 .9 2
2 .0 4
2 .0 1
2 .2 7
2 .0 7
1 .8 3
M.C.
MG
1 .8 9
1 .4 1
1 .7 3
1 .5 3
1 .9 0
1 .9 4
1 .6 $
2 .0 7
31
B.
2 .2 2
1 .7 6
1.7 5
1 .8 4
1 .7 4
1 .7 6
1 .8 4
2 .1 3
1 .9 4
1 .8 1
1 .9 1
1 .9 8
2 . 0$
1 .7 7
1 .8 8
M.C.
M.C.
1 .6 6
1 .6 8
1*77
1 .2 5
1 .8 8
1 .6 7
1 .5 6
1 .8 0
47
B.
1 .6 4
1.8 $
2 .0 9
1 .7 0
1 .8 $
1 .7 8
1 .8 8
2 .1 7
M.C.
M.C.
2 .0 3
2. 0$
1 .8 0
1 .9 2
1*92
1 .5 3
1 .6 7
2 .0 7
-57
B.
1 .8 7
2 .8 1
1 .7 6
1 .9 2
2 .0 9
2 .2 2
2 .1 $
2 .0 7
1 .6 6
1.8 7
1 .8 7
2 .1 1
*
M.C,. 32 ,
B.£/
:1 . 90
2 .0 4
2 .1 5
: 1 . 97
2 .0 3
: 1 . 86
1 .7 9
t l .7 9
2 .0 2
:1 ,7 0
si* 80
1 .6 9
1 .9 0
s2.01
s l.9 0
1 .7 4
S ire :
S ta tio n :.
:
Avg.
:1 .8 7
l/ Miles City
1 .9 2
2/ Bozeman
:
s
:
:
:
i
:
i
:
:
M.C. 44
Mi C. ■B.
2 t0 6
1 .9 5
2 .0 1
1 .4 7
2 .2 4
1 .7 4
2 .0 1
1 .6 0
2 .0 6
1 .8 1
1 .7 2
1*47
1 .7 8
1 .9 2
2 .0 6
2 .4 0
1 .9 1
'
- 17 -
b u lls have been u sed w ith bo th h e rd s .
The.number o f days betw een b i r t h
and w eaning h as a v erag e d a p p ro x im a te ly th e same a t both s t a t i o n s .
The
d if f e r e n c e i n a v e ra g e d a i l y g a in s can p ro b a b ly be a t t r i b u t e d t o more
fa v o ra b le c o n d itio n s a t H avre, in c lu d in g a more p ro d u c tiv e r a n g e , c o o le r
te m p e ra tu re s d u rin g th e summer and s h o r te r d is ta n c e s t o w a te r on th e ra n g e .
M. C. 28 s i r e d th e c a lv e s which a v e ra g e d th e h e a v ie s t g a in s from
b i r t h to w eaning i n th e s e s t u d i e s »
His c a lv e s were o u ts ta n d in g a t both
M iles C ity and H avre, a lth o u g h c a lv e s from M. 0. 57 g a in ed f a s t e r a t
H avre.
M. 0» 13 s i r e d th e lo w e st g a in in g c a lv e s i n th e t r i a l s .
His
c a lv e s w ere a ls o th e l i g h t e s t i n b i r t h w eight*
I n g e n e r a l th e low g a in in g c a lv e s a t M ile s C ity were from s i r e s t h a t
a ls o had low g a in in g c a lv e s a t H avre.
The g r e a t e s t d if f e r e n c e i n g a in s ,
betw een s i r e groups by th e same b u l l , were i n th e M. C. 57 c a lv e s .
They
w ere o n ly a v erag e a t M ile s C ity but were th e to p c a lv e s a t H avre.
T able V I. A n a ly sis o f V arian ce o f Average D a ily G ains From
B ir th to Weaning a t M ile s C ity and Bozeman
'(Mean S quares Only)
S o u rce o f
V arian ce
t
• :
Degree o f
.Freedom '
I
10
10
154
Between s t a t i o n s
Between s i r e groups
S ta tio n 's X s i r e s
W ith in s i r e groups
t
r
Mean
, S q u ares
%25**
.124**
.0 3 4
.047
p i s l e s s th a n .01
The a n a ly s is o f v a ria n c e f o r av erag e d a ily g a in from b i r t h to weaning
i s shown in. T able V I.
The r e s u l t s in d ic a te d a s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e
betw een s i r e groups and betw een s t a t i o n s .
s ir e X s ta tio n in te ra c tio n .
There was n o t a s i g n i f i c a n t
This meant t h a t s i r e s p ro d u c in g f a s t g a in in g
- i d c a lv e s a t one s t a t i o n te n d e d to do lik e w is e a t th e o th e r s t a t i o n .
D iff e re n c e s betw een s i r e s were s i g n i f i c a n t i n s p i t e o f any e f f e c t o f
s ta tio n .
These f in d in g s were i n d i r e c t c o n tr a s t to th o se o f Knapp and ■
' B lack (4 ) , who s t a t e t h a t an a n a ly s is o f v a ria n c e stu d y showed t h a t
d if f e r e n c e s betw een th e p ro g en y o f v a rio u s s i r e s cannot be d em o n strated
by r a t e o f g a in d u rin g th e s u c k lin g p e r io d p r i o r to w eaning.
They were
w orking w ith few er numbers th a n were in c lu d e d i n t h i s work and i t i s
p o s s ib le t h a t an in c r e a s e d number o f d e g re es o f freedom would r e s u l t in
s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e s betw een s i r e s which would n o t be a p p a re n t w ith
few er num bers.
R eferen c e i s now made t o Bozeman and M iles C ity i n th e d is c u s s io n
on fe e d l o t p erfo rm an ce.
As e x p la in e d p r e v io u s ly , t h i s i s because th e
fe e d in g o f th e Havre s t e e r s was done a t Bozeman.
The a v erag e d a i l y g a in s o f th e s t e e r s i n th e fe e d l o t a r e shown in
T able VTI'*
V a r ia tio n s i n th e perform ance o f p ro g en y from th e same s i r e
were q u ite pronounced.
M. C. 13 c a lv e s .
The g r e a te s t d if f e r e n c e was i n th e g a in s o f th e
H is s t e e r s g a in ed .5 1 pound more p e r day a t Bozeman
th a n a t M iles C ity*
There was a ls o c o n s id e ra b le sp re ad i n th e average
d a i l y g a in s betw een s i r e g ro u p s, p a r t i c u l a r l y a t Bozeman, ra n g in g from
th e h ig h e s t g a in o f 2 .3 0 pounds p e r day t o th e lo w est g a in o f 1 .5 9 pounds
p e r day.
The extrem es were n o t so g r e a t a t M iles C ity a s th e h ig h g a in
a t t h a t s t a t i o n was 2 .2 8 pounds p e r day and th e low was 1 .6 8 pounds p e r day
"When b oth s t a t i o n s a re c o n sid e re d th e TL C. 28 c a lv e s a g a in made th e
h e a v ie s t g a in s .
H is progeny were h ig h a t Bozeman and second a t M iles C ity .
The progeny o f M* C* 4 4 , c o n sid e re d th e b e s t s i r e e v er t e s t e d a t M iles
C ity , made P nly f a i r fe e d l o t g a in s i n Bozeman.
On th e same b a s is th e
— 19 —
M. C. 47 c a lv e s a v erag e d th e p o o re s t gain's a t both s t a t i o n s .
They were
th e lo w e st g a in in g c a lv e s a t Bozeman and second to th e lo w e s t i n M iles
C ity .
M. 0 . 13 s i r e d th e lo w e s t g a in in g c a lv e s a t th e l a t t e r s t a t i o n .
- 20 -
Table V II.
D a ily Gains in Pounds o f S te e r s on Feed
a t M iles C ity and Bozeman
S ire :
S ta tio n ;
M.C., 13 , ,
Mi C .!/ B .4/
1 .4 9
2 .3 9
2 .1 4
1 .7 1
1 .9 8
1 .5 7
2 .0 2
1 .7 3
1 .8 3
2 .2 4
.2431
1 .7 4
1 .6 8
2 .2 8
1 .6 8
2 .1 6 ■
M.C.
M.C.
1 .6 5
1 .7 3
1 .9 6
1 .8 0
1 .8 3
1 .8 8
1 .7 1
1 .8 0
16.
B.
2 .2 5
2 .1 2
2 .5 9
2 .0 0
2 .3 2
2 .2 1
1*92
2 .3 4
M.C.
M.C.' .
1 .9 2
2 .0 2
1 .6 9
2 .0 1
2 .1 8
2 .2 3
2 .2 4
2 .1 9
M.C.
20 .
M.C.
B.
1 .7 8
2 .2 7
1 .8 7
1 .7 9
1 .2 5
1 .6 4
1 .8 7
2 .3 0
2 .1 6
1 .8 5
2 .0 2 ' ' 1 .8 8
1 .0 8
2.1 3
1 .6 8
1 .9 5
Avg..
1 .6 8
1 .8 0
2 .2 2
2 .0 6
1 .6 8
2 .1 9
21
B.
2.2 2
2 .1 5
1 .7 3
1 .9 5
1 .9 2
1 .9 7
1 .7 2
2 .0 4
M.C.
M.C.
1 .6 9
2 . 2?
2 .4 5
1 .8 3
2 .0 9
2 .1 9
2 .0 9
2 .0 9
28
B.
2 .1 8
2 .1 3
2 .6 1
2 .3 1
2 .51
2 .3 7
2 .3 5
1 .9 8
M.C.
M.C.
2 .0 3
1 .7 8
2 .1 3
2 .0 4
1 .7 8
1 .9 5
2 .0 6
2 .0 6
31
B.
1.7 3
1 .4 7
1.71
1.6 9
1.89
1 .6 7
1.9 6
1 .7 6
2 .0 1
1 .9 6
2 .0 9
2 .3 0
1 .9 8
1 .7 3
•
S ire :
S ta tio n :
M.C. 32
M.C.
B.
1 .9 0
1 .9 1
1 .9 0
2 .0 4
1 .8 6
1 .8 7
2 .0 2
1 .7 9
2 .0 1
2 .1 0
2 .0 0
1 .8 5
1 .8 8
2 .0 2
1 .7 7
1 .9 4
M.C.
M.C.
1 .9 8
2 .0 3
1 .8 5
1 .4 9
1 .9 8
1 .9 1
1 .9 2
1 .7 1
43 '
B.
1 .7 6
1 .8 7
1 .7 5
1 .7 8
1 .7 0
1 .5 5
2 .0 1
1 .5 9
M.C.
M. C.
2 .2 8
2 .4 6
2 .0 3
2 .2 6
2 .3 3
2 .4 8 '
2 .1 4
2 .2 8
44 .
B.
2 .1 4
1 .5 0
1 . 94
2 .1 0
1 .9 7
1 .5 3
1 .9 8
1 .7 5
M.C.
M.C.
1 .9 2
1 .7 1
2 .0 3
1 .8 5
1 .7 4
1 .9 5
1 .7 5
1 .7 9
47
B.
1 .9 0
1 .1 6
1 . 6?
1 .1 8
1 .6 4
1 .6 2
1 .6 4
1 .8 7
■M.C.
M.C.
1 .7 3
2 .1 0
2 .0 4
1 .7 1
2 .1 7
2 .1 6
2 .2 4
1 .7 1
57
B. '
1 .7 4
2 .2 8
1 .9 3
1 .9 5
1 .7 1
2 .0 1
1 .8 2
2 .0 0
Avg.
1 .8 9
1 .8 6
1 .7 5
2 .2 8
1 .8 6
1 .8 4
1 .5 9
1 .9 8
1 .9 3
l/ Miles City
1 .9 7
2/ Bozeman
- 21 -
T able V III . .A nalysis o f V a ria n ce ’ o f Average D a ily G ains
. .Ilh ile on Feed a t M iles C ity and Bozeman
(.Mean S quares Only)
Source o f
V arian ce
:
:
D egree o f
Freedom
:
. $
I
11
11
168
Between s t a t i o n s
Between s i r e groups
S ta tio n s X s i r e s
W ith in s i r e groups
Mean
S q u ares
.0223
.3460
.4548#*
.0374**
-x-st- P i s l e s s th a n .01
Table V III shows th e r e s u l t s o f th e a n a ly s is o f v a ria n c e on average
d a ily g a in s i n th e fe e d l o t .
s ire .
T his a n a ly s is c o n ta in s d a ta on an a d d itio n a l
The r e c o rd o f perform ance on t h i s s i r e has n o t been u s e d h e re to fo re
a s h is re c o rd a t b o th s t a t i o n s was in c o m p le te .
o b ta in e d from t h i s a n a ly s is .
S a th e r u n u su a l r e s u l t s were
There were no s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e s in
a v erag e d a ily g a in s betw een s t a t i o n s bu t t h e r e were s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e s
betw een s i r e groups and th e r e was a s i g n i f i c a n t s i r e X s t a t i o n i n t e r a c t i o n .
T his meant t h a t some s i r e s t e s t e d h ig h a t M iles C ity and low a t Bozeman
w h ile o th e r s i r e s were h ig h a t Bozeman and low a t M iles B i t y .
The most
p l a u s i b le e x p la n a tio n o f such r e s u l t s i s t h a t th e y were due t o y e a r e f f e c t s ,
s in c e th e same s i r e was n o t u s e d th e same y e a r a t both s t a t i o n s .
In su p p o rt o f t h i s c o n te n tio n th e r e s u l t s o f th e t e s t s on th r e e s i r e s
can be c i t e d .
M.C. 4 3 , M.C. 47 and ILC.. 57 were a l l t e s t e d i n 1944 a t
M iles C ity and i n 1945 a t Bozeman.
a t both s t a t i o n s .
T h e ir r e l a t i v e r a t i n g s were th e same
However, th r e e o th e r b u lls were t e s t e d i n 1942 a t
M iles C ity and i n 1944 a t Bozeman.
The h ig h t e s t i n g b u l l i n Bozeman
was low i n M iles C ity*
The e f f i c i e n c y o f g a in o f th e s t e e r s i n th e fe e d l o t a re g iv en in
t a b l e IX.
About th e same r e s u l t s o c c u rre d a s were o b serv ed i n th e r a t e
-22-
Table IX.
S ire t
S ta tio n :-
Avg.
t
M. C
: M .C .i/
; 6 4 5 .0
: 5 5 3 .0
: 5 2 7 .9
: 5 8 7 .9
5 4 0 .8
: 5 2 6 .3
: 5 6 3 .5
: 5 6 3 .5
: 5 6 3 .5
13, /
B .i /
4 6 3 .8
5 2 4 .3
52 9 .9
4 8 1 .2
4 9 3 .6
4 8 3 .3
4 7 5 .5
4 8 4 .5
:
E f f ic ie n c y o f G ains in Pounds o f S te e r s on Feed
a t M iles C ity and Bozeman
M.C. 16
: M.G.
: 5 6 9 .3
: 6 0 4 .3
f 5 5 5 .7
: 6 0 3 .8
: 5 7 9 .0
: 51 6 .9
: 5 2 7 .1
: 5 1 2 .3
4 9 2 .0 : 5 5 8 .6
B.
4 9 0 .7
5 2 1 .1
4 3 4 .0
5 2 2 .7
4 8 3 .9
5 0 0 .9
5 5 0 .2
4 7 1 .0
496^8 : 518.4
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
i
M.G.
M.€.
4 9 8 .1
5 3 6 .8
5 2 9 .4
5 1 9 .8
5 0 3 .9
5 1 9 .4
5 1 6 .3
5 2 3 .1
I/ Miles City
:
t
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
ILG. 43
M.G.
5 4 8 .2
4 8 3 .0
565.6
5 7 5 .7
5 4 5 .0
6 0 1 .9
5 5 2 .2
5 4 8 .4
4 8 3 .2 : 5 5 2 .5
2/ Bozeman
B..
5 4 9 .1
50 3 .9
5 5 5 .4
54 4 .3
5 6 1 .7
5 7 7 .5
4 8 1 .4
5 5 4 .1
O'
: 518.4
32
B.
53 6 .6
4 7 8 .0
53 1 .9
4 8 2 .2
4 7 9 .6
4 8 9 .8
4 5 5 .5
4 1 2 .6
i
Avg.
20
B.
5 3 5 .1
4 8 2 .6
57 6 .9
4 9 8 .6
511.6
4 7 0 .3
5 1 8 .8
5 0 8 .9
:
M.G.
£ M.G.
£ 4 9 7 .0
: 5 0 8 .5
; 5 3 0 .2
: 5 4 1 .8
: 5 0 0 .2
: 5 0 0 .5
: 4 8 1 .2
: 5 3 8 .8
5 1 2 .9 : 5 U .7
: M.G.
: M.G.
£ 507.9
£ 4 7 8 .2
: 4 5 8 .3
£ 4 8 1 .9
: 596.9
£ 4 9 0 .2
£ 4 6 0 .2
£.4 8 6 . 8 .
21
B.
4 7 7 .0
4 8 6 .0
5 1 4 .7
4 7 9 .0
4 2 8 .6
4 5 6 .2
4 3 7 .3
4 0 6 .0
M.G.
M.G.
5 7 3 .2
5 2 0 .9
4 9 1 .1
5 5 7 .3
5 0 5 .0
4 9 8 .9
5 2 4 .4
5 2 4 .4
460.6
5 2 4 .4
5 0 2 .9 i 4 9 5 .1
47
B.
4 9 9 .1
7 4 2 .8
562:8
7 5 7 .7
5 3 2 .0
5 8 6 .0
'5 5 4 .6
520.9
M.G.
M.G.
5 8 8 .4
5 4 1 .0
5 4 0 .3
5 6 8 .5
5 2 8 .5
4 9 7 .9
5 1 3 .4
5 5 1 .8
57
B,
5 4 1 .7
4 5 4 .9
4 9 6 .2
4 8 6 .8
5 6 3 .8
5 1 2 .3
534.1
4 8 0 ,9
59 4 .5
541.2
5 0 6 .3 I
28
B.
. 5 2 3 .7
5 3 1 .1
4 5 4 .2
5 1 3 .7
4 7 9 .4
5 0 5 .4
5 0 0 .3
5 1 5 .5
£’
:
S ire :
S ta tio n :
:
M.G.
: M.G. ■
: 5 0 1 .4
: 5 2 0 .3
: 57 0 .2
: 57 9 .1
: 521.0
: 4 6 7 .1
: 4 8 8 .5
: 4 9 9 .9
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
£
:
M.G.
M.G.
5 2 7 .7
51 4 .7
5 3 9 .1
51 2 .9
5 3 6 .7
4 6 4 .5
5 H .7
5 3 3 .3
: 5 1 7 .6
44 '■ :
B.
:
4 4 9 .2 •
5 7 0 .0 :
5 3 0 .0 :
4 7 1 .8 :
5 0 5 .3 :
4 9 2 .3 £
4 4 5 .3 £
4 9 9 .6 :
M.G.
M.G.
5 1 7 .6
5 9 0 .6
53 0 .9
5 3 0 .8
5 5 6 .4
5 4 3 .4
5 1 4 .2
5 2 2 .1
4 9 5 .4 : 5 3 8 .3
:
:
£
£
:
:
:
:
£
:
31
B. .
569.0
6 3 1 .7
549.9
564.4
514.0
542.3
488. 9 '
514.4
546.8
- 23 -
i n th e fe e d l o t .
V a ria tio n i n perform ances o f th e same s i r e groups was
pronounced betw een s t a t i o n s .
One f a c t o r was d i f f e r e n t , s in c e m ost o f th e
s i r e s had f a s t e r ■g a in in g c a lv e s a t M iles C ity , b u t a l l e x c e p t two o f th e
s i r e groups proved t o be more e f f i c i e n t i n g a in a t Bozeman.
The m ost e f f i c i e n t c a lv e s , a v e ra g in g th e perform ance a t b o th s t a t i o n s ,
w ere from Z. C. 21.
The l e a s t e f f i c i e n t were th e progeny o f M.C. 47.
Uhen re c o rd o f perform ance s tu d ie s w ere f i r s t i n i t i a t e d th e e f f ic ie n c y
o f g a in o f th e progeny o f a s i r e was c o n sid e re d t o be o f p rim ary im p o rtan ce.
However, f u r t h e r e x p e rie n c e and stu d y have shown t h a t w h ile e f f ic ie n c y
o f g a in i s one o f th e im p o rta n t f a c t o r s i n b e e f c a t t l e s e l e c t i o n , i t has
n o t been a s im p o rta n t a s r a t e o f g a in .
o f p u r e ly economic re a s o n s .
p ro fit.
T his f a c t was e s ta b lis h e d because
An e f f i c i e n t s t e e r may n o t r e t u r n th e most
A low g a in in g s t e e r , r e g a r d le s s o f how e f f i c i e n t he may be in
fe e d u t i l i z a t i o n , f r e q u e n tly does n o t r e t u r n a s g r e a t a m argin between
fe e d c o s ts and s e l l i n g p r i c e a s does a h ig h g a in in g s t e e r t h a t may be l e s s
e ffic ie n t.
Thus, th e em phasis i n re c o rd o f perform ance s tu d ie s has been
s h i f t e d to r a t e o f g a in , a lth o u g h b o th p o in ts a r e c o n sid e re d .
T able X. A n a ly sis o f V arian ce o f E f f ic ie n c y o f G ains
o f M iles C ity and Bozeman - (Mean Squares Only)
• Source o f
, V arian ce
Between s t a t i o n s
Between s i r e groups
S ta tio n s X s i r e s
W ith in s i r e groups
:
:
Degree o f
Freedom
I
' 10
10
154
:
:
Mean
S q u ares
1 5 ,5 8 7 .1 3 * *
7 ,5 7 1 .8 6 * *
6 ,8 1 5 .9 3 * *
1 ,5 1 2 .0 3
■SBv P i s l e s s th a n .01
T able X shows th e r e s u l t s o f an a n a ly s is o f v a ria n c e on e f f ic ie n c y o f
24 -
g a in s i n th e fe e d l o t a t M ile s C ity and Bozeman.
S i g n i f ic a n t d if f e r e n c e s
were found betw een s i r e groups and betw een s t a t i o n s .
s ig n ific a n t s ire X s ta tio n in te ra c tio n .
There was a ls o a
P r a c t i c a l l y th e same r e s u l t s
o c c u rre d i n t h i s a n a ly s is a s were o b ta in e d when th e a v erag e d a i l y g a in s
i n th e fe e d l o t were a n a ly z e d .
The e x c e p tio n was t h a t th e r e was no
s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e betw een s t a t i o n s i n av erag e d a ily g a in s , b u t th e r e
was a s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e between s t a t i o n s i n e f f ic ie n c y o f g a in s .
The s im il a r i t y i n r e s u l t s betw een r a t e and e f f ic ie n c y o f g a in o f th e
s i r e groups was t o be e x p e c te d , ' W in te rs and McMahon ( l l ) and Blank and
Knapp ( I ) b o th found a h ig h c o r r e l a t i o n betw een r a t e and e f f ic ie n c y o f
g a in i n th e fe e d l o t .
The l a t t e r r e p o r te d a c o r r e l a t i o n o f .8 8 between
e f f ic ie n c y o f g a in and r a t e o f g a in from w eaning to s la u g h te r and a
c o r r e l a t i o n o f »89 betw een e f f ic ie n c y o f g a in an d r a t e o f g a in from
b i r t h t o s la u g h te r .
I t i s e v id e n t from th e p re c e d in g s t a t i s t i c a l a n a ly s e s o f th e s i r e
t e s t s a t Bozeman and M ile s C ity t h a t changes i n th e c o m p arativ e r a tin g s
o f some o f th e s i r e s o c c u rre d .
The r e s u l t s were n o t d i f f e r e n t enough t o
m e r it a com plete r e v is io n o f th e p re s e n t m ethod o f t e s t i n g , b u t th e y do
show th e need fo r s ta n d a r d iz a tio n .o f p ro c e d u re s i n c o n d u ctin g re c o rd o f
p erfo rm an ce.
The re a s o n s why th e pro g en y o f th e same s i r e do n o t p erfo rm
s i m i l a r l y i n d i f f e r e n t t e s t s s t i l l have t o be d eterm in ed .
p ro b a b le re a s o n s can be m entioned.
Some o f th e more
There i s no doubt t h a t th e fe e d e r
a f f e c t s th e fe e d l o t perform ance o f a group o f s t e e r s .
The e lim in a tio n o f
t h i s v a r ia b le m ight be b ro u g h t abou t by th e u se o f s e l f - f e e d e r s .
f a c t o r , which i s n o t s u b je c t to c o n tr o l, is . w e a th e r.
A nother
There i s d o u b tle s s ly
- 25 -
some i n h e r i t e d d if f e r e n c e i n th e a b i l i t y o f c a lv e s to w ith s ta n d in clem en t
w e a th e r.
I t i s im p o rta n t t o th e su c c e ss o f th e re c o rd o f perform ance
program t h a t a method o f t e s t i n g be ev o lv ed t h a t would a s s u r e an a c c u ra te
a p p r a i s a l o f a s i r e r e g a r d le s s o f where he i s te s te d ..
A lthough th e r e
was some l a c k o f agreem ent i n r e s u l t s o b ta in e d a t th e two s t a t i o n s i n
t h i s experim ent a f a i r l y h ig h c o r r e l a t i o n was a c h ie v e d .
F u r th e r changes
which m ight h e lp t o re d u c e th e v a r ia b le s i n th e s e t e s t s in c lu d e th e use
o f a s ta n d a rd r a t i o n , s ta n d a rd management and fe e d in g p ro c e d u re s and th e
u s e o f a fe e d l o t where c lim a tic changes would n o t be a m ajo r problem .
- 26 -
SUMMARY-
-
There were n o 's i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e s i n b i r t h w eig h ts between
c a lv e s s i r e d a t M iles C ity and c a lv e s s i r e d a t H avre, b u t t h e r e was a
b a r e ly s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e between s i r e g ro u p s.
C alves a t th e Havre s t a t i o n made s i g n i f i c a n t l y f a s t e r g a in s from
b i r t h to w eaning th a n d id th e c a lv e s a t th e M iles C ity s t a t i o n .
There was
a ls o a s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e i n av erag e d a ily - g a in s from b i r t h t o weaning
betw een s i r e g ro u p s.
S ir e s p ro d u c in g f a s t g a in in g c a lv e s a t one s t a t i o n
te n d e d to do th e same a t th e o th e r s t a t i o n .
There were no s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e s betw een s t a t i o n s i n .average
d a ily g a in s i n th e fe e d l o t .
There were s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e s between
s i r e groups and th e r e was a s i r e X s ta tio n " i n t e r a c t i o n .
Hence some o f
th e s i r e groups made f a s t g a in s a t Havre and slow g a in s a t M ile s C ity .
"With o th e r s i r e groups th e r e v e r s e was t r u e .
An a n a ly s is o f th e e f f ic ie n c y o f g a in s i n th e fe e d l o t showed t h a t
th e s t e e r s f e d a t Bozeman made s i g n i f i c a n t l y more e f f i c i e n t g a in s th a n .
d id th e s t e e r s f e d a t M iles C ity .
The rem ain d er o f th e a n a ly s is showed
r e s u l t s s im ila r to th o s e o b ta in e d from th e stu d y o f r a t e o f g a in i n th e
fe e d l o t .
There was a s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e between s i r e groups and a
s ir e X s ta tio n in te ra c tio n .
I n o rd e r t o a c h ie v e a h ig h e r c o r r e l a t i o n between t e s t s a t d i f f e r e n t
s t a t i o n s , c e r t a i n p r a c t i c e s n o t in c lu d e d i n th e s e t e s t s a re recommended.
These recom m endations a re n o t b ased on e x p e rim e n ta l e v id e n c e , b u t summarize
M iat may have cau sed th e la c k o f agreem ent in th e re c o rd s , o f progeny from
th e same s i r e .
- 27 -
They in c lu d e 1.
The u s e o f s ta n d a rd r a t i o n s t o be f e d a t a l l s t a t i o n s where
t e s t s a r e made.
2.
The u s e o f s ta n d a rd management and fe e d in g p ro c e d u re s .
3.
The use o f s e l f - f e e d e r s i f p r a c t i c a b l e .
4«
The u se o f an e n c lo se d fe e d l o t m inim ize th e e f f e c t o f te m p e ra tu re
changes.
- 28 -
LITERATURE CITED AND CONSULTED
1.
B la ck , W. H. and Knapp, B rad fo rd J r .
1936. A Method o f M easuring Perform ance i n B eef C a ttle
P ro c . Am. Soc. An. P r o d .. 1936:72-77
2.
B la c k , W. H. and Knapp, B rad fo rd J r .
1938. A Comparison o f S e v e ra l Methods o f M easuring Perform ance
i n B eef C a ttle
P r o c .,Am. Soc. An. Prod. 1938:103-107
3.
C la rk , R0 T ., Knapp, B rad fo rd J r . , B ak er, A. L . and Q u esen b erry , J . It.
1943« Perform ance T e s tin g o f B eef C a t tle
■Montana' A gr. Exp. S t a . B u i. 417:12
4.
Knapp, B ra d fo rd J r . and B la ck , W. H.
1941. F a c to rs I n f lu e n c in g R ate o f Gain o f B eef C alv es D uring th e
S u c k lin g P e rio d
J o u r. A gr. R es. 63:249-254
5.
Knapp, B ra d fo rd J r . , L am bert, W. V. and B lack , W. H.
1940. F a c to rs I n f lu e n c in g Length o f G e s ta tio n and. B ir th Weight
i n C a t tle
J o u r. A gr, R es. 61:277^285
6.
Knapp, B ra d fo rd J r . , B ak er^ A. L . , Q uesen b erry , J . E . and C la rk , E . T.
1941. R ecord o f Perform ance in , H e re fo rd C a t tle
Mont. A gr. Exp. S t a . B u i. 397:30
7.
Knapp, B ra d fo rd J r . , P h i l l i p s , R alph W ., B lack , V . H. and C la rk , R. T.
1942. L ength o f F eeding P e rio d and Number o f Anim als R eq u ired to
M easure Economy o f Gain i n P rogeny T e sts o f B eef B u lls
J o u r. An. S c ie n ce 1:283-292
8.
Knapp, B ra d fo rd J r . and B ak er, A0 L .
1942. L im ite d V ersus F u ll Feeding, i n R ecord o f Perform ance T e sts f o r
B eef C a ttle
J o u r. An. S cien ce 2:321-327
9.
P o n te c o rv o , Guido
1936. La V a lu ta z io n e D ei T o ri N e lle R asse Da Carne E ,C arnelavord
■M ediante Lo S tu d io D e lla D iscandenza ,
M in iste ro D e ll' A g ric o ltu ra E D e lle F o reste . Anne X lI I No.6 :7 -2 6
10.
S h e e ts , E , W.
1932. E v a lu a tin g B eef C a t tle Perform ance f o r a R e g i s te r o f M erit
P ro c . Am. Soc. An. P ro d . 1932:41-47
11.
M n t e r s , L . M. and McMahon, H arry
1933. E ffic ie n c y . V a ria tio n s , i n S te e r s
M innesota A gr. E x p .-S ta . B ui. 94:28
\
UAWTAIdA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
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