Growth pattern for body weight of straightbred and crossbred Kedah-Kelantan cattle

O. M. Ariff, J. A. Johari and I. Dahlan

Abstract

Body weight data from 12 months of age to maturity of 1 018 straightbred Kedah-Kelantan (KK) cattle and Hereford-KK (HK), Brahman-KK (BK) and Friesian-KK (FK) crosses were utilised to examine breedtype differences in weight at immature ages, mature weight and rate of maturing. Large differences in body weight at yearling, 24–48 months and at maturity were detected among the breedtypes. Crossbreds were significantly heavier than straightbred KK in all body weights studied. Mature weight for HK, BK, FK crosses and KK cattle were 333.3, 316.5, 320.9 and 227.8 kg respectively. KK cattle and BK crosses were faster maturing (0.0428 to 0.0523) than HK and FK crosses (0.0366 to 0.0376). It was concluded that breedtypes which had higher weights at maturity tended to be slower maturing than those with lower mature weights.

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