The effects of primary color (black, red,
or white) on performance and carcass characteristics
of 253 cross-bred calves were evaluated.
The only effect of color was that white
calves had lighter birth weights than red
calves, which was probably the result of the
maternal influence of the Brahman breed.
White calves also had a lower carcass yield
grade than red calves. No other effects of
color on performance or carcass traits were
found. It can be concluded that knowledge of
breed and expected progeny differences (EPD)
of the sire within the breed are more accurate
methods of predicting the future performance
and carcass characteristics of calves than
color.
