Phenotypic Characterization of Angus Grade - Black Cattle from Sragen District

Abstract

Angus Grade - Black Cattle is one result of the artificial insemination (AI) program that is able to grow and adapt to tropical conditions, particularly in Sragen district. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship among body measurements in Angus Grade - Black Cattle. We analyzed the phenotype of Angus Grade - Black Cattle which as a result of a crossing between possibly consists of some Indonesian local cattle and Abeerden Angus Cattle. A total of 100 cows were used. The parameters recorded were: body length (BL), withers height (WH), rump height (RH), rump length (RL), rump width (RW), heart girth (HG), shoulder width (SW), chest depth (CD), hips width (HW), face length (FL), face width (FW), ear length (EL), ear width (EW) and tail length (TL). The results showed that the mean body weight (BW) was 407,742 kg while the body measurements were 129,213 cm (BL), 125,131 cm (WH), 133,940 cm (RH), 34,235 cm (RL), 13,854 cm (RW), 170,287 cm (HG), 41,228 cm (SW), 68,382 cm (CD), 47,377 cm (HW), 46,624 cm (FL), 21,676 cm (FW), 24,473 cm (EL), 15,744 cm (EW), 120,207 (TL) respectively. The highest correlation was obtained between HG-BW while the correlation between WH-BW was observed to be the least. There were six models of equation for predicting live body weight, the components were extracted explaining for the total variation of each model were 88,6 %, 1,7 %, 0,9 %, 0,8 %, 0,7 %, 0,6 % respectively of the variability in live body weight when all the body measurements were used in the equation. The body measurements could be used as selection criteria for improving body weight of Angus Grade - Black Cattle. Angus Grade - Black Cattle can be used for the breeding program as beef cattle.