Growth performance of Wagyu × (Angus × Brahman) and Wagyu × (Charolais × Brahman) crossbred calves from birth to 12 months

This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance of crossbred calves produced by Wagyu bulls (frozen semen) with dams of Red Angus × Brahman (WAB) and Charolais × Brahman (WCB) from birth to 12 months at the Ruminant Research and Development Center, Binh Duong province, between March 2023 and April 2024. A total of 80 newborn calves were divided into two groups: 40 WAB and 40 WCB, monitored for 12 months. All calves were fed diets formulated according to NRC standards (2016) by energy and protein based on available feed sources at RRDC such as guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv Hamil; Panicum maximum Mombasa), cassava residue, beer residue and concentrates. The birth weight of WAB calves (29.1 kg) was slightly lower than that of WCB calves (30.2 kg). From birth to 6 months, WCB calves had significantly higher average weights than WAB calves (P < 0.05). At 12 months, WAB calves weighed 288.6 kg, while WCB calves weighed 297.1 kg. Average daily weight gains from birth to 12 months were 710.7 g/head for WAB and 731.2 g/head for WCB. Overall, WCB crossbreds demonstrated superior growth performance compared to WAB.