Alternative production systems for male Charolais cross-bred cattle using semi-natural grasslands

Sammanfattning

The aim was to compare animal performance and carcass characteristics in Charolais cross-breds raised as bulls finished indoors to steers grazing semi-natural grasslands during summers combined with high, medium or low feed intensity during indoor periods. Bulls (n = 15) and high steers (n = 13) were fed grass-clover silage: barley (450:550 g kg(-1) dry matter), medium steers (n = 13) silage ad libitum and low steers (n = 12) silage at a restricted intake. High and medium steers grazed semi-natural grasslands one summer, whereas low steers grazed two summers. From weaning to slaughter, liveweight gains were 1.72, 0.93, 0.72 and 0.60 kg day(-1) for bulls, high steers, medium steers and low steers, respectively (P < 0.05). Bull carcasses had higher dressings, conformation scores and proportions of high-valued retail cuts than steers (P < 0.001). High and medium steers had highest fatness scores (P < 0.02) and most trim fat (P < 0.03), whereas medium and low steers had more marbling in musculus longissimus dorsi than bulls (P < 0.03).

Nyckelord

Animal performance; carcass characteristics; feed intensity; grazing; nature conservation; semi-natural pasture; steer

Publicerad i

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science
2011, volym: 61, nummer: 1, sidor: 21-33
Utgivare: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS

SLU författare

• Hessle, Anna

  • Institutionen för tillämpad husdjursvetenskap och välfärd, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Dahlström, Frida

  • Institutionen för tillämpad husdjursvetenskap och välfärd, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Wallin, Karin

  • Institutionen för tillämpad husdjursvetenskap och välfärd, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Veterinärmedicin
Husdjursvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2010.543427

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/57468