Breed and heterosis effect on age and weight at puberty and reproductive performance of beef heifers

Abstract

The effect of breed and heterosis on age and weight at puberty and reproductive performance at the first breeding season of beef heifers were evaluated. Seventy four Charolais (C), Nellore (N), 1/2 CN and 1/2 NC females, born in 1987 and 1988, were used. The females were kept on cultivated pasture during the first and second winter, and on native pasture the rest of the time. Heterosis for live weight at the different ages, ranged from 12.8 to 14.6%. Crossbred heifers, 1/2 CN and 1/2 NC, reached puberty 89 days earlier than straightbreds, resulting a heterosis of -12.9%. Average age at puberty was 623, 754, 568 and 634 days, respectively, for C, N, 1/2 CN and 1/2 NC. Average live weight at puberty was 352, 299, 323 and 368 kg, respectively. Heterosis for percentage of heifers showing heat until 18, 24 and 28 months of age was 76.9, 67.6 and 17.6%, respectively. The percentage of heifers pregnant at the end of the first breeding season, 25 to 28 months, was 94.4, 53.4, 99.4 and 97.5%, respectively, for C, N, 1/2 CN and 1/2 NC. Heavier heifers at weaning and at 12 months reached puberty earlier, being the correlation coeficients of -.39 and -.56, respectively.