The performance of a beef breeding herds subjected to continuous mating in the valley bushveld of the Eastern Cape

Author: E.J.B. Bishop
Year: 1978
Issue: 1
Volume: 8
Page: 15 - 18

In a five-year study made on beef cows ranched in the Fish River valley of the Eastern Cape with bulls being run continuously with the cows, an average calving percentage of 80,3 was achieved. Yearly calving percentages were positively correlated with rainfall during the previous year. Calving peaks tended to occur later each year except when very good rains fell during a preceding calving peak. When calving took place during the periods August-November and April-May this resulted in the best and second best combinations of calf weaning mass and cow reconception rate.

Keywords: Beef herd, continious mating
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