Effects of extending the grazing season in beef production systems

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 116-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.J. O’Neill ◽  
M.J. Drennan ◽  
P.J. Caffrey
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Rural Environment ◽  
Environment Protection ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Protection Scheme ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Feed Costs ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Eu Support

The cost of grazed grass is less than half that of grass silage (O’Kiely, 1994) and incomes from beef production are low and largely dependent on EU support schemes. Thus the income from beef production could be incresed by reducing feed costs through increasing the proportion of grazed grass in the diet and optimising the use of the various support schemes. The objective of this two-year study was to examine the effects on the performance of yearling cattle of turnout to pasture three weeks earlier than normal. This was examined within two suckler beef production systems. One was a standard system similar to that outlined by Drennan (1993) and the second was compatible with the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS).

Influence of beef production system on vitamin B12 concentrations in plasma and muscle

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Girard ◽  
R. Berthiaume ◽  
L. Faucitano ◽  
C. Lafrenière
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Longissimus Dorsi ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Growth Promotants

Vitamin B12 concentrations in longissimus dorsi of steers were decreased by the addition of concentrate as compared with feeding with grass silage only, but this decrease was prevented by the use of growth promotants (Revalor® and Rumensin®; P = 0.06). Beef production systems can modify vitamin B12 concentrations in meat. Key words: Beef, plasma, muscle, vitamin B12

Grassland arthropod species richness in a conventional suckler beef production system and one compatible with the Irish agri-environment scheme (REPS)

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 ◽  
pp. 236-236
Author(s):  
A. J. Helden ◽  
A. Anderson ◽  
G. Purvis
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Grassland Management ◽  
Environment Protection ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Protection Scheme ◽  
Arthropod Species ◽  
General Decline

Grassland management practices, such as grazing, strongly affects the biodiversity of grassland arthropods; increasing grazing intensity causes a general decline in species richness (Morris, 2000). One of the aims of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) is to conserve and enhance biodiversity within Irish agricultural land (Feehan et al., 2002). In order to determine the effectiveness of this aspect of REPS, one must compare the relative biodiversity of grassland under REPS with that of conventionally managed grassland. Aiming to determine whether species richness was higher in REPS-compatible compared with a standard system of management, we measured the species richness of grassland arthropods within two contrasting grassland treatments within an experimental study of suckler beef production.

scholarly journals Pros and Cons of Alternatives to Piglet Castration: Welfare, Boar Taint, and Other Meat Quality Traits

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonneau ◽  
Weiler
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Boar Taint ◽  
Carcass Quality ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Feed Costs ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Entire Male

This paper reviews the pros and cons of various alternatives to the surgical castration of male piglets without pain relief. Castration is mostly motivated by the presence of boar taint in the meat from some entire male pigs. It results in pain during surgery and markedly increases feed costs and the fat content of the carcass. Raising entire male pigs avoids pain at castration, but animals can suffer from increased stress during the finishing period because of aggressive and mounting behavior. Feed efficiency and carcass quality are much better than in surgical castrates. The quality of meat from entire male pigs is lower because of boar taint, a reduced intramuscular fat content, and increased unsaturation of the fat. Immunocastration prevents boar taint, pain associated with surgery, and stress related to aggressive and mounting behavior. Feed efficiency and carcass quality are intermediate between surgical castrates and entire males. Meat quality is similar to surgical castrates. Anesthesia alone prevents pain during surgery, but not after, while analgesia alone mitigates pain after surgery, but not during it. With the currently available methods, the cost of combined anesthesia and analgesia is too high for conventional production systems in most countries.

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