Criollo cattle in crosses with Aberdeen Angus in the Argentine Pampas region

Paper presented at the III Ibero-American Symposium on the Conservation of Local Animal Genetic Resources and Sustainable Rural Development

Abstract

A long term research project to evaluate crossbreeding beef cattle under grazing conditions was developed by INTA at Balcarce Experiment Station, south east of Buenos Aires Province (37º 45' and 58º 18' W). Crossing Criollo (C) cattle with Aberdeen Angus (A) showed heterosis levels of 8, 9 and 10% for pregnancy, birth and weaning rates. Heterosis for growth traits in the progeny varied depending on the year, averaging 3, 5 and 8% for birth, weaning and 18-month weight, respectively. Crosses reached a similar slaughter weight with about the same dressing percentage than purebred A, but 2 months earlier. Their carcasses had an average of 2% more muscle, 0,8% more bone and 3% less fat than those from pure A. Variation in the dynamics of subcutaneous fat depth in the purebred females tended to be less for C than for A (between 2.4 and 3.7 mm vs. 2.4 and 4 mm, respectively). In general terms, using C as paternal breed on A females would increase per hectare productivity during the breeding phase, with no adverse consequences on meat quality at similar slaughter weights than A.