A crossbreeding experiment with cattle, with special reference to the maternal effect in South Devon—Dexter crosses

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to determine the extent of the maternal influence on size of calves at birth and during subsequent stages of growth, by making reciprocal matings between large South Devon and small Dexter cattle. As a preliminary to the experimental results, data concerning the respective parent breeds were analysed. From the first part of the study the following information was obtained:1. The mean weight at birth of purebred South Devon calves was 100·3 ± 1·47 lb. with a tendency, though not statistically significant, for male calves to be heavier. Calves born during the months April to July appeared to be heavier than those born at other times, but the age of the dam had no definite effect on the birth weight of offspring. It was found, however, that the sire may influence birth weight to a significant degree.2. The mean period of pregnancy for South Devon females, carrying purebred foetuses, was 287·0 ± 0·42 days, the tendency being for males to be carried longer, but the difference of 0·97 days was not statistically significant. A statistically significant difference indicated that winter calvers carry their foetuses longer as a rule, but though heifers have shorter gestation periods than cows, the difference of 1·6 days was not significant.

Secretion of angiogenic activity by placental tissues of cows at several stages of gestation

“…By using various techniques (e.g. reciprocal matings or embryo transfers between breeds), it has been shown that the maternal genotype has a profound influence on fetal growth (Walton & Hammond, 1938;Venge, 1950;Hunter, 1956;Joubert & Hammond, 1958). In addition, the maternal system appears to have a limited ability to support fetal growth (Barcroft, 1946;McKeown & Record, 1953;Alexander, 1964;Anderson et al, 1978).…”

Prenatal and pre-weaning growth and nutrition of cattle: long-term consequences for beef production

“…The effect of foetal and maternal genotype on foetal growth has been most convincingly demonstrated in cattle by Ferrell (1991) Joubert and Hammond (1958) for birth weights for South Devon and Dexter cattle and their reciprocal crosses. In this regard, foetal growth capacity as influenced by sex and siregenotype may also influence the nutritional status of the pregnant cow during late gestation (Greenwood et al, 2002b), probably due to differences in foetal nutrient uptake, contributing to maternal nutrient requirements.…”

Maternal and sex-linked effects on size and conformation in domestic fowl

“…MATERNAL effects on adult size have been reported in several specie& of mammal (Walton and Hammond, 1938;Hunter, 1956;Joubert and Hammond, 1958;Brumby, ig6o). Their existence in birds is less certain, partly because the male (homogametic sex) is more troublesome to keep, and economically less useful, than the female.…”