Evaluation of temperament in Hungarian Grey and Holstein Friesian fattening bulls

Abstract

Authors compared temperament of Hungarian Grey (HG, n=20, age: 570 days, live weight: 489,3 kg) and Holstein-Friesian bulls (HF, n=20, age: 475 days, live weight: 510 kg). Scale-test (temperament score, TEMP: assessing animals in a five-points scale while weighing) was used in this study. Data were evaluated applying the program package SPSS 10.0. Although temperament score of the two breeds differed at neither of the measurements (median, HG: 2.5 scores, HF: 2.0 scores) in the case of both breeds, negative correlation (r_rank) was calculated between TEMP and, live weight gain by life (HG: –0.18, HF: –0.32, P<0.05, all together: –0.40, P<0.10). With the use of this test, selection of more temperamental animals would be possible, so authors suggest that the methods should be applied in the domestic practice.