Preliminary results in temperament of Charolais bulls and heifers

Abstract

Authors compared temperaments of Charolais bulls (n=18, age: 1^st measurement: 262 days, 2^nd measurement: 366 days, live weight: 1^st measurement: 259 kg, 2^nd measurement: 391 kg) and heifers (n=13, age: 1^st measurement: 259 days, 2^nd measurement: 349 days, live weight: 1^st measurement: 264 kg, 2^nd measurement: 339 kg) in a Hungarian herd on two occasions applying two different methods. One of the two methods was the scale-test (temperament score, TEMP: assessing animals in a five-points scale while weighing), the other one was the flight-speed test (flight speed score, FSC: seconds needed for leaving the scale and moving to a set distance of 1.7 m). Although temperament scores of the two sexes did not differ at either of the measurements (1^st measurement: bulls=1.44 scores, heifers=1.69 scores, 2^nd measurement: bulls=1.39 scores, heifers=1.92 scores), there was a significant difference in flight-speed scores at the second measurement (1^st measurement: bulls=2.61 sec, heifers=2.47 sec, n.s., 2^nd measurement: bulls=1.95 sec, heifers=2.86 sec, P<0.05). Regarding the results of both measurements, there were significant differences between bulls and heifers in both temperament- and flight speed scores (TEMP: bulls=1.42 scores, heifers=1.81 scores, P<0.10, FSC: bulls=2.28 sec, heifers=2.67 sec, P<0.10), implying that heifers were more nervous than bulls. Temperament scores showed a loose negative correlation with flight speed score in heifers (bulls r_rank:-0.01, n.s., heifers r_rank:-0.40, P<0.05), so animals behaving calmer on the scale left the scale more slowly. With the use of these two tests, selection of two temperament animals would be possible, so authors suggest that both of the methods should be applied in the domestic practice.