A comparison of Canadian Holstein and British Friesian steers for the production of beef from an 18-month grass/cereal system

1979 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. N. Cook ◽  
Jennifer M. Newton

ABSTRACTThe trial compared 50 purebred Canadian Holstein and 46 British Friesian steers. The cattle were reared on a grass/cereal system designed to achieve an overall target live-weight gain of 0·82 kg per day from weaning to slaughter at 18 months of age. The cattle, born i n September 1973, grazed during the summer of 1974 and were slaughtered out of yards from January to July 1975. Equal numbers of each breed were allocated at random to three slaughter weights (477, 500 and 523 kg live weight). The Meat and Livestock Commission measured and classified all carcasses. In addition, a sample was cut according to commercial specifications. There were no significant differences in slaughter age or live-weight gain between the breeds. A significant difference (P < 0·05) in killing-out percentage was found in favour of the British Friesian as was a small (4%) but highly significant difference (P < 0·001) in carcass gain.The Canadian Holstein carcasses were considerably longer (P < 0·001) with less eye-muscle area (P < 0·001). The British Friesian carcasses contained 0·7% more saleable meat (P < 0·001) and 1% less bone (P < 0·01). There were no significant differences in fat trim. There were large differences in live appearance and carcass classifications, the British Friesians being of superior beef conformation.

1988 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. L. Bennett ◽  
H. H. Meyer ◽  
A. H. Kirton

ABSTRACTFat depths of Southdown and Suffolk rams were ultrasonically measured several times prior to 18 months of age. Ultrasonic measurements were regressed on live weight and deviations from this regression were standardized and summed to select rams with high and low fat depth to produce crossbred progeny for slaughter. An average of 3·24 standard deviations separated high and low sires. Progeny were slaughtered at two ages to determine differences in carcass fatness and its development. A significant difference of 0·5 mm fat depth over the loin eye muscle was found between progeny of low and high sires. Progeny from Suffolk high sires had greater tissue depth over the rib and higher kidney fat weight than those from Suffolk low sires but differences were small or reversed in Southdown progeny. Low progeny had significantly less estimated carcass chemical fat than high progeny. Fat depth C increased less in low progeny between early and late slaughter ages. However, no difference in partition of carcass weight gain to fat weight gain was observed between high and low progeny. Differences in fat weight between high and low progeny, as well as between Southdown and Suffolk progeny, appeared to have occurred prior to the earlier slaughter age.


1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Giles ◽  
R. D. Murison ◽  
B. R. Wilson

ABSTRACT1. Measurements of digestible energy intake, live growth and carcass measurements were conducted with 96 individually housed pigs (48 male and 48 female) given the same diet at four feeding levels (ad libitum; Agricultural Research Council daily digestible energy intake (C); C–12·5%; and C–25% daily digestible energy intake. The pigs were slaughtered at one of six live weights (45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 kg).2. Prediction equations of average daily live-weight gain and introscope P2 backfat thickness on the hot carcass (hot P2) were developed as functions of average daily digestible energy intake for males and females at varying live weights. The relationships found were 20·8 g live-weight gain per MJ digestible energy intake and 0·81 mm hot P2 backfat thickness per MJ digestible energy intake from 25 to 90 kg live weight.3. Compared with feeding level C, C –25% produced no difference in feed conversion ratio, reduced shoulder maximum, mid-back and loin minimum backfat thickness by 6–8 mm (14–4%), 4–2 mm (168%) and 4–1 mm (17–5%) respectively (P<0·01) and increased eye-muscle area by 2908mm2 (10·9%).4. Compared with females, males reached slaughter weight 9·4 days earlier, increased daily live-weight gain by 64g, increased feed conversion ratio by 0·3, had 1·6mm less hot P2 backfat thickness, had less backfat at all mid-line positions and showed no difference in eye-muscle area.


Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 783-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Freret ◽  
B Grimard ◽  
A A Ponter ◽  
C Joly ◽  
C Ponsart ◽  
...  

The aim of our study was to test whether a reduction in dietary intake could improve in vitro embryo production in superovulated overfed dairy heifers. Cumulus–oocyte complexes of 16 Prim’ Holstein heifers (14 ± 1 months old) were collected by ovum pick-up (OPU), every 2 weeks following superovulation treatment with 250 μg FSH, before being matured and fertilized in vitro. Embryos were cultured in Synthetic Oviduct Fluid medium for 7 days. Heifers were fed with hay, soybean meal, barley, minerals and vitamins. From OPU 1 to 4 (period 1), all heifers received individually for 8 weeks a diet formulated for a 1000 g/day live-weight gain. From OPU 5 to 8 (period 2), the heifers were allocated to one of two diets (1000 or 600 g/day) for 8 weeks. Heifers’ growth rates were monitored and plasma concentrations of metabolites, metabolic and reproductive hormones were measured each week. Mean live-weight gain observed during period 1 was 950 ± 80 g/day (n = 16). In period 2 it was 730 ± 70 (n = 8) and 1300 ± 70 g/day (n = 8) for restricted and overfed groups respectively. When comparing period 1 and period 2 within groups, significant differences were found. In the restricted group, a higher blastocyst rate, greater proportions of grade 1–3 and grade 1 embryos, associated with higher estradiol at OPU and lower glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate, were observed in period 2 compared with period 1. Moreover, after 6 weeks of dietary restriction (OPU 7), numbers of day 7 total embryos, blastocysts and grade 1–3 embryos had significantly increased. On the contrary, in the overfed group, we observed more <8 mm follicles 2 days before superovulation treatment, higher insulin and IGF-I and lower nonesterified fatty acids in period 2 compared with period 1 (no significant difference between periods for embryo production). After 6 weeks of 1300 g/day live-weight gain (OPU 7), embryo production began to decrease. Whatever the group, oocyte collection did not differ between period 1 and 2. These data suggest that following a period of overfeeding, a short-term dietary intake restriction (6 weeks in our study) may improve blastocyst production and embryo quality when they are low. However, nutritional recommendations aiming to optimize both follicular growth and embryonic development may be different.


1974 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. T. Mears ◽  
L. R. Humphreys

SummaryIndividual live-weight gain (LWG) of Angus weaner cattle continuously grazing (Pennisetum clandestinum) pasture was negatively and linearly related to stocking rate (SR) and independent of ammonium nitrate (N) application rate at similar grazing pressures.Live-weight gain varied from 380 to 1056 kg/ha according to N rate in 1970–1 and from 637 to 1477 kg/ha in 1971–2. Calculated SR giving maximum LWG/ha was 3·4, 4·7, 7·6 and 9·8 animals/ha for the 0, 134, 336 and 672kg N/ha treatments respectively in 1970–1 and 6·1, 5·7, 9·1 and 10·6 animals/ha for the same treatments in 1971–2. Highest response to applied N (1·9 and 3·4 kg LWG/kg additional N in successive years) occurred between N131 and N336; response was greater at low and intermediate SR than at high SR. Carcass weight, quality score, depth of subcutaneous fat and area of eye muscle were negatively related to SR; SR's giving maximum output per unit area caused a reduction of ca.25% in production per head and adversely affected carcass quality at 18 months of age.LWG/head was independent of feed availability in spring and summer and was positively related to availability of green kikuyu up to 600 kg D.M./head in the autumn/winter period.


1978 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. H. Cuthbert ◽  
W. S. Thickett ◽  
P. N. Wilson ◽  
T. Brigstocke

ABSTRACTSixty-four British Friesian castrated male cattle (steers) with an average starting weight of 292 kg and an average slaughter weight of 460 kg were used to compare compound diets containing 0, 10, 20 or 30% NaOH-treated straw. A basic diet of 1·8 kg hay, 1·8 kg barley straw and sugar beet pulp, on a scale rising from 1·4 to 2·8 kg according to live weight, was given throughout the trial. Compound diets were individually offered on a scale starting at 3·8 kg rising to 5·8 kg with an average intake of 4·9 kg/day. Treatments did not differ significantly in respect of live-weight gain, which ranged from 0·94 kg/day with the control to 0·97 kg/day with the 30% NaOH-treated straw compound. The grading of the animals, based on the Meat and Livestock Classification scheme, also showed no significant difference.A second trial with a further 64 British Friesian steers tested inclusion levels of 0, 30,45 and 60% treated straw in a compound diet. At the start of the trial, the cattle averaged 328 kg live weight and were slaughtered from 450 kg live weight. Animals were yarded in store condition and were given a combination of grass silage and compound diets according to a scale, based on live weight and a predicted performance of 1 kg live-weight gain per day. There were no significant differences between treatments in live-weight gain, which ranged from 0·97 kg on the control to 1·02 kg/day on the 45% NaOH-treated straw diet. There was some refusal on the 60% NaOH-treated straw diet in respect of twice daily allocations, with a few cattle on occasions not being able to consume the allowance in the 30 min provided. However, each feed allocation was always consumed before the next meal. There were no significant differences between treatments in respect of fat class, but cattle on the 45% treated-straw diet had statistically superior conformation compared with the control.


1997 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 541-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Hanlon ◽  
S. M. Rhind ◽  
H. W. Reid ◽  
C. Burrells ◽  
A. B. Lawrence

AbstractAt weaning at 3 months of age (week 1), 30 red deer hind calves were housed in six groups of five animals at a stocking density of 1·5 m2 per head and maintained in these groups for 4 weeks. At the start of week 5, all calves were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA). Fifteen calves, from three groups, selected at random, were transferred to individual pens which restricted visual and tactile contact with others (ISO) while the remaining animals were kept in their groups (GP). The behaviour, food intake, live-weight gain, antibody and lymphocyte responses in vitro to OVA and lymphocyte responses in vitro to the non-specific mitogen, concanavalin A (ConA), of all calves were assessed in each of weeks 5 to 9. Isolated calves had a lower mean live-weight gain than GP calves (P < 0·001), although there were no differences in food intake. Significantly more time was spent lying (P < 0·001) but less time feeding (P < 0·05) and self-grooming (P < 0·001) by ISO than by GP calves. There was no significant difference between ISO and GP calves in the cortisol response to an ACTH challenge test (10 i.u.) at week 11. Lymphocyte responses and antibody titres to OVA were lower in GP than in ISO calves at weeks 7 (P < 0·05) and 8 (P < 0·05), respectively. In contrast, GP calves had greater lymphocyte responses to the non-specific mitogen, ConA, in weeks 7 (P < 0·05) and 10 (P < 0·001) but not in week 9 compared with ISO calves. Differences in lymphocyte stimulation were attributed to the non-specific mitogenic nature of ConA. Factors such as agonistic interactions evident in group housing may have compromised the antibody and lymphocyte responses to OVA by GP calves but conversely the lack of social contact may have also suppressed behavioural activity in ISO calves.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 18-23
Author(s):  
H Khatun ◽  
MN Islam ◽  
AA Bhuyan ◽  
MN Hasan ◽  
MS Islam

A total of 198 straight run day old ducklings of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) developed native duck (named as Rupali and Nageswary) and local native duck genotypes were distributed among nine farmers of low laying areas of Kalihati Upazilla of Tangail district. Rupali and Nageswary ducklings were obtained from existing stock of BLRI and local native ducklings were collected from local farmers of the study area. After 12 weeks of age each farmers retained 10 female and 2 male ducks and sold away remaining ducklings. Farmers’ were instructed to supply 50g of balanced feed to their ducks in the morning and evening. Ducks were allowed to scavenge in the beel throughout the day. Data on: growth, feed intake, age at onset of lay, egg production rate, egg weight, mortality rate were recorded and cost-benefit was calculated. There found no significant difference on growth parameters, live weight gain, age at first laying or age at peak egg production among the duck genotypes. In the study highest live weight gain was found in Nageswary (1090 g) followed by Rupali (1058 g) and local native (912 g) duck at 8 weeks of age. Egg production rate of local native ducks (37.21%) was found significantly lower (P<0.001) compared to Rupali (50.67 %) and Nageswary (55.40 %). The mortality rate in local duck was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to Rupali and Nageswary ducks. Rupali ducks produced heavier eggs (66.86g) followed by local native (62.20g) and Nageswary (57.22g) which differed significantly (P<0.05). Rupali ducks laid eggs of thicker shell (0.61mm) compared to other duck genotypes under study which was also varied statistically (P<0.05). Cost benefit analysis shows that earning both from Nageswary and Rupali was much higher than local native ducks. Higher egg production rate of Nageswary and Rupali duck has contributed for higher return. It is concluded that rearing Rupali or Nageswary ducks in the low laying rural areas with scavenging and supplementary feeding facility is more profitable than rearing local native ducks.Bangladesh J. of Livestock Res. 19(1-2): 18-23, Jan-Dec 2012


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gertruida L. van Wyk ◽  
Louwrens C. Hoffman ◽  
Phillip E. Strydom ◽  
Lorinda Frylinck

Weaner male Boer Goats (BG; n = 36; 21 bucks and 15 wethers) and large frame Indigenous Veld Goats (IVG; n = 41; 21 bucks and 20 wethers) were raised on hay and natural grass ad libitum and the recommended amount of commercial pelleted diet to a live weight between 30 and 35 kg. Carcass quality characteristics (live weight, carcass weights, dressing %, chilling loss and eye muscle area) were measured. The right sides of the carcasses were divided into wholesale cuts and dissected into subcutaneous fat, meat and bone. Large frame Indigenous Veld Goat (IVG) wethers were slightly lighter than the IVG bucks with no significant difference observed between BG. Wethers compared to bucks had higher dressing %, subcutaneous fat % in all primal cuts, intramuscular fat %, kidney fat % and, overall, slightly less bone %. Some breed–wether interactions were noticed: IVG wethers were slightly lighter than the IVG bucks, but the IVG bucks tended to produce higher % meat compared to other test groups. Judged on the intramuscular fat % characteristics, it seems as if wethers should produce juicier and more flavorsome meat compared to bucks.


Author(s):  
Hasan Cicek ◽  
Murat Tandogan

In this study, optimum slaughter age of the commercial broilers was estimated regarding maximum net income. Study materials were average target performance (live weight gain and feed consumption) of Cobb 500 and Ross 308 commercial hybrids, prices of feed, chicks and broiler meat. The optimum slaughter age was estimated by a mathematical function (y = f (x) = a+bx-cx2) that reflects the quadratic (parabolic) relationship. According to this function, the optimum slaughter age was calculated as 5.62 weeks (39.34 days). As a result, it can be said that genetic improvement positively affects the correlation between live weight gain and feed consumption of broilers. However, prices of feed, chicks, and broiler meat have more decisive role on slaughter age.


1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Thomas ◽  
B. G. Gibbs ◽  
J. C. Tayler

ABSTRACT1. A primary growth of perennial ryegrass was cut on 8 to 11 May (early) or on 12 June (late) for comparison with the primary growth of a tetraploid red clover, which was cut either on 1 or 2 June (early) or on 28 June (late). The crops were ensiled, after wilting for about 4h, with the addition of formic acid at 2·21/t fresh crop. The silages were given ad libitum alone or with rolled barley at 11·5 g dry matter per kg live weight to 40 British Friesian steers initially 3 months old and 108 kg live weight.2. On average there was no significant difference in digestibility between perennial ryegrass and red clover. However, the rate of decline in digestibility with time was greater with perennial ryegrass than with red clover.3. Calves given silage of red clover as the sole feed ate more dry matter and grew faster than calves given grass silage (P <0·001) but supplementation with barley reduced the intake of red clover silage to a greater extent than that of perennial ryegrass silage. Barley supplementation increased live-weight gain of calves given perennial ryegrass from 0·32 to 0·83 kg/day and that of calves given red clover from 0·63 to 0·99 kg/day (interaction P <0·05). The results did not indicate a higher net efficiency of utilization of the legume. Date of cut had no significant effect on dry-matter intake but earlier cutting resulted in an increase in live-weight gain from a mean of 0·61 to 0·77 kg/day (P <0·001).4. The results show that high rates of live-weight gain (0·74 kg/day) can be achieved by calves given silage of red clover and that earlier cutting of herbage for silage does not always result in higher intakes of dry matter. Supplementation of silages with barley can reduce markedly the difference in intake and live-weight gain apparent when the silages are given as sole feeds.


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