Abstract. Body measurements of 110 beef cows of 9 breeds (Hungarian Simmental, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Red Angus, Lincoln Red, Shaver, Charolais, Limousin and Blonde d’Aquitaine) were taken in December 2004. The absolute, relative measurements and measurement indices moreover correlations between age, live weight and measurements were evaluated and compared for the mentioned breeds. Animals in study were born between 1989 and 2002, kept on the same condition on peat-bog soil pasture at Keszthely. Significant differences (P<0.05) were found among breeds in most of the body measurements. Blonde d’ Aquitaine was the heaviest in live weight (638 kg), highest as for the height at withers (142.5 cm), height at rump (146.6 cm) and length of the body (151.5 cm). Limousin had longest measurements as for the length of the rump (47.4 cm) and width of the rump (58.3 cm). Shaver had the longest width between shoulders (52.9 cm) and width of the head (25.1 cm) while Lincoln Red the longest length of the head (52.8 cm). The correlations between live weight and measurements were medium or strong positive (r = 0.40–0.83), between age and measurements slight positive (r = 0.01–0.46), among the different measurements medium or strong positive (r = 0.22–0.81).

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The length of time beef cows spend in production is an important component of the rentability of beef cattle husbandry. In spite of this fact, very few publications have dealt with this trait, either in Hungary or abroad. Therefore the aim of the present study was to evaluate some of the age parameters of beef cows related to the production period. A database of 2115 cows belonging to five breeds (Hungarian Grey, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Limousin, Charolais) and two crossbred genotypes (Simmental x Hereford F 1 , Simmental x Limousin F 1 ) born between 1977-1992 was evaluated. Age at first calving (AFC), age at culling (ACU), moreover longevity (LONG) were studied. Longevity is defined as the number of years from first calving to culling. The mean values of AFC, ACU and LONG obtained were 2.71, 9.47 and 6.77 years, respectively. Breed/genotype and birth year had significant influence (P<0.01) on each evaluated trait, whereas birth month statistically affected only the AFC. Ages at first calving of the different breeds and genotypes were: 3.51, 2.08, 2.76, 2.82, 3.02, 2.03, 2.62 years, respectively. Hereford crossbred and purebred cows were the youngest, whereas Hungarian Grey cows were the oldest at first calving. Ages of culling of the evaluated breeds and genotypes were as follows: 12. 42, 11.09, 11.03, 10.61, 10.89, 12.73, 8.15 (2), Aberdeen Angus (3), Limousin (4), Charolais (5) sowie Kreuzungstiere aus Ungarischen Fleckvieh x Hereford (6) und Ungarisches Fleckvieh x Limousin F 1 (7). Untersucht wurden die Merkmale Erstkalbealter (EKA), Alter der Merzung sowie die Nutzungsdauer, als dem Alter zwischen der ersten Kalbung und der Merzung in Jahren. Die Durchschnittswerte der untersuchten Merkmale aller Tiere betrugen für EKA 2,71, MA 9,47 und 6,77 Jahre. Sowohl die Rasse bzw. der Genotyp und das Geburtsjahr haben signifikant alle Merkmale, der Geburtsmonat lediglich das Erstkalbealter beeinflusst. Das Erstkalbealter betrug für die Populationen 1-7 3,51; 2,08; 2,76; 2,082; 3,02; 2,03 bzw. 2,62 Jahre. Die Hereford bzw. Hereford x Kreuzungskühe erreichten das früheste, die Ungarischen Steppenrinder das späteste Erstkalbealter. Das Merzungsalter betrug für die 42; 11,09; 11,03; 10,61; 10,89; 12,73 bzw. 8,15 Jahre. Die Hereford-Kreuzungskühe und die Ungarischen Steppenrinder erreichten die längste, die LimousinKreuzungskühe die kürzeste Lebensdauer. In den Jahren 1977 bis 1992 verringerte sich das Merzungsalter im Durchschnitt aller Populationen von 15,35 auf 5,91 Jahre. Das Nutzungsalter betrug für die 9; 9,08; 8,28; 7,81; 7,91; 10,79; bzw. 5,55 Jahre. Dieses Merkmal zeigte eine abnehmende Tendenz (von 12,45 zu 3,31 Jahren) im Untersuchungszeitraum.

The national database of the use of stallions, supplied by the Department of Animal Registration and Breeding Organization of the Hungarian National Food Safety Authority was analyzed for the purpose of this research. 680 foaling data of 7 horse breeds was processed during the work. The factors effecting gestation length were examined by univariate analysis of variance (GLM). Breed, month of mating, method of fertilization, age of the mare, and sex of the foal were considered as fixed effects, and the sire was used as random effect in the study. The population genetic parameters of gestation length were also estimated. The overall mean value of gestation length was 334.1±2.62 days. Differences between the breeds were not significant. The effect of month of mating and effect of sex of foal on the gestation length were statistically proven (P<0.01). The mares fertilized in March and April had the longest gestation lengths 342.4 days, 341.4 days, respectively. In the cases of mares fertilized in later months of the year the gestation length was about 10 days shorter. Fillies had longer gestation length (335.6 days), than colts (333.5 days). Method of fertilization and age of the mare had no significant effect on the gestation length. The effects of sire on the gestation length were significant (P<0.05). The heritability (h 2 ) of gestation length was 0.18. Based on the analysis it can be presumed, that if the mares are kept in a suitable environment (professional nutrition, good health and breeding practices), well-balanced gestation parameters can be expected in the case of any genotypes. ÖsszefoglalásA Szerzők a NÉBiH Állattenyésztési Igazgatóság Tenyésztés Szervezési és Teljesítményvizsgálati Osztályától kapott országos ménhasználati adatbázist dolgozták fel. A munka során hét lófajta összesen 680 ellési adatát értékelték. A vemhességi időt befolyásoló tényezők hatásának vizsgálatát többtényezős varianciaanalízissel (GLM) végezték. A munka során fix hatásnak tekintették a fajtát, a fedeztetés hónapját, a termékenyítés módját, a kanca életkorát, valamint a megszületett csikó ivarát. A modellbe véletlen hatásként az apát is beépítették. A vemhességi idő tulajdonság populációgenetikai paramétereit is megbecsülték. A vemhességi idő főátlaga 334,5±2,62 nap volt. A fajták közti különbségeket nem találták statisztikailag igazolhatónak. A fedeztetés hónapjának, valamint a csikó ivarának a hatása statisztikailag igazolhatóan (P<0,01, ill. P<0,05) befolyásolta a vemhességi időt. A leghosszabb vemhességi idővel (342,4 nap, ill. 341,4 nap) a márciusban és áprilisban termékenyített kancák rendelkeztek. Az év későbbi hónapjaiban termékenyített kancák vemhességi ideje ennél mintegy 10 nappal rövidebb volt. Kancacsikó születése esetén a vemhességi idő (335,6 nap) hosszabb volt, mint a méncsikóknál (333,5 nap). A termékenyítés módja, valamint a kanca életkora nem gyakorolt szignifikáns hatást a vemhességi időre. Az apa hatása a vemhességi idő tulajdonságra statisztikailag igazolhatónak (P<0,05) bizonyult. A vemhességi idő örökölh...

Abstract. The aim of the study was to do genetic evaluation of the 205-day weaning weight of pure bred herds of different beef cattle breeds kept in Hungary and supply results for genetic programmes of different breeds. Population genetic analysis was performed on data from 42695 purebred beef calves from seven breeds born from 1981 to 2005 in Hungary. Animal model was used for the estimations. Sire, herd, age of dam at calving, birth year, season of birth and sex of calf had significant effects on 205-day calf weaning weight for each breed. Significant breed differences and breed overlaps were found. Direct heritability value estimates were 0.18 to 0.61, the maternal heritability values from 0.07 to 0.38, and the total heritability values were between 0.09 and 0.35. The direct-maternal genetic correlations were high and negative for all the breeds varying from −0.63 to −0.88.