The repeatability of cow performance in beef cattle

The repeatability of a character has been defined as the degree of likeness of repeated records. This degree of likeness is the correlation between records of the same animal. The characteristics investigated in this study for their repeatability were the birth weight, adjusted daily gain from birth to weaning and type grade of offspring.

The earliest age at which low producing cows can be identified and culled from the herd is of the utmost importance to the breeder of beef cattle. If it can be determined with some degree of confidence that the average cow will repeat her calf performance each year, then this information would be very useful in deciding which cows might be culled at an earlier age than might otherwise be possible.

The majority of repeatability estimates have been obtained in studies with western range Hereford cattle; however, the reported observations in range herds are in fairly close agreement with the estimates thus far reported for general farm herds. Difference may be attributed to herd management, culling practices, climatic conditions and grazing facilities.

Visual appraisal of cattle with respect to type and quality have a definite place in the selection of replacement individuals but should be considered along with the ability of animals to produce repeatedly and the record of their offspring.

It Is hoped that the results of this study will be helpful in indicating the average repeatability of these performance characteristics in beef cattle.