The terminal sire (Piemontese X Chianina-TS) on Italian rustic breeds (Maremmana-MM and Sarda-SA). I. In vita and slaughter performance

摘要

The 100 animals (49 males and 51 females) used in the study were sired by Piedmont X Chianina (terminal sire type, TS) or Charolais bulls and had Maremmana or Sardinian dams. The animals remained on pasture until 5 months of age and were then rearedin feedlots. Average daily gain (ADG) did not differ significantly between the 2 sire groups (2.3% higher for TS than for CH), while it was 15.2% higher for progeny of Maremma dams than for progeny of Sardinian dams; the difference was greater for malesthan for females. Net dressing percentage was similar in progeny of TS and Charolais bulls (66.4%); there was no significant difference between dam breeds. The dressing percentage of males was 2 percentage points higher than that of females (P<0.001). Carcass conformation differed between animals with TS and Charolais sires (P<0.001); it did not differ significantly between dam breed groups. Males had better conformation scores than females (P<0.001). Carcass fatness score was lower for progeny of TS than for progeny of Charolais bulls (P<0.001) and lower for progeny of Maremmana dams than for progeny of Sardinian dams (P<0.01). Females had higher fatness scores than males (P<0.001). Carcass dimensions were generally larger for TS and Maremmana progeny than for other progeny, and larger for males than for females. TS and Charolais progeny were very similar in final weight, ADG and conversion index. Maremmana progeny and males generally showed better performance than other groups. It was concluded that the use of TS bull on hardy cows (Maremmana in particular) can be recommended.