The Brahman Cattle Performances Through Genetic Improvement Program in Sabah, Malaysia
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Indonesian Center for Animal Science Research and Development (ICARD)
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A greater understanding of livestock genetics is possible to increase reproductive rate and reduced generation interval of cattle. In Sabah, a genetic improvement program on Brahman cattle was initiated at Livestock Breeding Centre, Tawau using Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) with the collaboration with Australian Brahman Breeders’ Association. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performances of the progeny from the Brahman cattle genetic improvement program in Sabah. There were 120 Brahman cows used in the breeding program. The cows were divided into five herds and each herd was mated with a single pedigree Brahman sire with known EBV. The average body weights of the male calves are heavier than the female calves at all stages of growth. The average weight of the male calves were 179.1; 203.2; and 259.1 kg and the female calves were 180.1; 197.6; and 246.4 kg at 200, 400 and 600 day respectively. The average age at first calving is 1290.8 days with ranges from 1190.9 to 1427.0 days. There was no significant different in the age at first calving among the heifers from all the sires. In addition, the time taken for the male calves to reach weight between 300 to 350 kg is on average 723.7 days and the average weight at that age was on average 316.67 kg. Indeed, the performances of the Brahman cattle using EBV technology in this study had shown big potential to be implemented in wider scale in Malaysia as to increase beef production.