Effect of suckling on growth and quantitative and qualitative carcass traits of once-calved heifers

Heifers (n=72) from four breed-types were used to evaluate the effect of breed-type and parity/weaning age on growth performance and carcass characteristics of the heifers. Breed-types studied were Japanese Black (B), B×Holstein (BHo), B×BHo (BBHo), and Japanese Shorthorn (S)×B (SB); whereas parity/weaning age treatments included maiden heifers and two once-calved heifer groups in which calves weaned at either 7 or 105 days. Growth performance of the once-calved heifers was inversely proportional to the milking ability of the heifers. Differences of carcass quality were significant (P<0.05) among breed-types, but not significant (P>0.05) among parity/weaning age groups by finishing for 180 days after weaning the calves.