Bulletin No. 377 - Performance Testing Studies with Beef Cattle

The goal in beef cattle breeding is the production of animals that make rapid and efficient gains and have desirable conformation. Performance testing has recently been advanced as a means of identifying individuals possessing superior productive qualities and as a means of evaluating sires for transmitting these qualities to their offspring. This report gives the results of performance tests conducted with Hereford and Shorthorn calves fed over a constant time period as well as the results of a supplemental study undertaken to gain information that might add refinement to the evaluation of gains in beef cattle