BEEF-PRODUCTION THROUGH THE DAIRY-HERD .3. GROWTH UNTIL 26 MONTHS OF AGE IN HYBRID MALES

Growth until 26 months of age was studied in 174 hybrid males produced by crosses of Zebu Charolais, Santa Gertrudis and 3/4 Limousin 1/4 Criollo males with 3/4 Holstein 1/4 zebu and 5/8 Holstein 3/8 Zebu females using two linear fixed effects models. Model 1 studied the effects of paternal genotype (8), maternal genotype (2), contemporary group (13) and the paternal x maternal genotype interaction. Model 2 included the effect of genetic group (calf's genotype, 8). The variables analysed were weight and average daily pin (ADG) adjusted to 26 months of age. All effects were significant, except the paternal x maternal genotype interaction in model 1. The Zebu hybrids were superior to the other crosses, except those of Santa Gertrudis in weight. The differences between extreme genetic group represented by the hybrids: Zebu x 3/4 H 1/4 Z and 3/4 Li 1/4 Cr x 5/8 H 3/8 Z were 94.6 kg and 119 g/day for weight and ADG, respectively in favour of the former. Adjusted means were of 362.2 kg for weight and 0.42 kg/day for ADG.