Genetic parameters were estimated for growth and fertility indicator traits in a South African beef cattle population. Measurements on 5601 pedigreed progeny of 96 Bonsmara sires, 18 Belmont Red sires and 20 Bonsmara × Belmont Red cross sires were recorded over 19 years in 4 diverse climatic regions of South Africa. Growth traits were measured on growing stock from birth to 18 months at pasture. Cow weights were measured at calving and weaning. Age at first calving, and repeated measurements of calving day and calving interval were recorded on 1993 breeding females as indicators of reproductive performance. The traits were analysed using univariate and bivariate animal models with maternal effects fitted.

Direct heritability of growth traits (0.11–0.42) and female fertility traits (0.02–0.13) suggested that genetic progress could be made by selection for some traits. Genetic correlations between growth and fertility traits were variable (–0.47–0.85) and indicated that multi-trait selection would be the best method of dealing with multidirectional forces on productivity traits. Genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects on liveweight traits were mostly negative indicating that genetic improvement of traits with strong maternal influence, such as weaning weight, would be complicated and supported the use of post-weaning weights with less maternal influence as selection criteria to improve the direct additive component of growth. The genetic parameter estimates provide useful reference values for estimation of breeding values in a proposed combined-breed genetic evaluation program.