title: Maternal Effects of Japanese Shorthorn Cows on the Growth of Embryo-transferred Japanese Black Calves in a Cow-calf Grazing System.
abstract: The growth performance of embryo-transferred Japanese Black calves that were born from, and suckled by, Japanese Shorthorn cows in a cow-calf grazing system (BS-group, n = 5) was compared to that of Japanese Black calves from Japanese Black cows in a cowshed (BB-group, n = 5). The daily weight gain from birth to 1 month was higher in the BS-group than in the BB-group (p<0.01), and the same trend (p<0.05) was observed at 2 and 3 months of age. This resulted in body weight that was significantly higher for the BS-group between 1 and 3 months of age than what was observed for the BB-group (p<0.05). Heart girth was significantly greater in the BS-group than in the BB-group throughout the experimental period (p<0.01), and chest depth and withers height in the BS-group were significantly greater from 2 to 4 months of age (p<0.05) and at 4 months of age only (p<0.05). No difference in body length (p>0.05) was observed between the groups. These results suggest that the maternal effect of Japanese Shorthorn cows was positive for embryo-transferred Japanese Black calf growth during the early suckling stage. As Japanese Black calves are traded at a high price on the Japanese market, we conclude that this proposed production system is likely to improve the profitability of herd management in upland Japan.
authors: Livestock and Forage Research Division, Tohoku Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Morioka, Iwate 020-0198, Japan.
authors: Manabu
authors: M
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: Livestock and Forage Research Division, Tohoku Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Morioka, Iwate 020-0198, Japan.
authors: Kentaro
authors: K
authors: Ikeda
authors: Livestock and Forage Research Division, Tohoku Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Morioka, Iwate 020-0198, Japan.
authors: Naoki
authors: N
authors: Takenouchi
authors: Livestock and Forage Research Division, Tohoku Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Morioka, Iwate 020-0198, Japan.
authors: Masakazu
authors: M
authors: Higashiyama
authors: Livestock and Forage Research Division, Tohoku Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Morioka, Iwate 020-0198, Japan.
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Watanabe
keywords: Cow-calf Grazing; Embryo Transfer; Japanese Black Cattle; Japanese Shorthorn