Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Smith, Trent

Committee Member

Parish, Jane A.

Committee Member

Vann, Rhonda C.

Committee Member

Godfrey, Robert W.

Date of Degree

8-15-2014

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Animal Science

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences

Abstract

The objectives were to determine the association of hair shedding to performance in beef cattle and estimate genetic parameters for hair shedding scores. Dams were observed for shedding and given a score of 1 to 5. The month of first shedding (MFS) was determined when a female reached an average shedding score of 3.25 or less. Performance data included calf bw and d205wt and were considered as a trait of the dam. Hereford dams with a MFS of March weaned calves 18.37 + or - 8.85 kg heavier than dams with a MFS of June (P < 0.01). Angus dams with a MFS of March had calves with bw 7.75 + or - 1.64 kg greater than dams with a June MFS (P < 0.001). The heritability estimate for MFS was 0.11 + or - 0.06. Timing of hair shedding may have an influence on growth performance for certain breeds.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/17906

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