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Effects of finishing strategy on performance of Belgian Blue × Friesian and Limousin × Friesian steers.
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2010
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M.G. Keane. Effects of finishing strategy on performance of Belgian Blue × Friesian and Limousin × Friesian steers. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research 49: 27–39, 2010
Abstract
Belgian Blue and Limousin bulls are used for cross-breeding with Holstein Friesian dairy
cows in Ireland. In beef winter-finishing enterprises, a preliminary feeding period sometimes
precedes the finishing period. The optimum feeding level for this period has not been
established. The objective of this study was to compare lifetime performance of Belgian
Blue × Holstein Friesian (BB) and Limousin × Holstein Friesian (LM) steers and to
determine the effects of three finishing strategies on performance and carcass traits. Fortyeight
spring-born male calves (24 BB and 24 LM), the progeny of Limousin and Belgian
Blue bulls out of Holstein Friesian cows, were reared together to slaughter. At about 19
months of age they were assigned to one of three finishing strategies involving grass silage
ad libitum plus 0, 3 or 6 kg concentrates per head daily for 112 days (preliminary period)
followed by concentrates ad libitum to slaughter at 610 kg live weight. Slaughter weight and
carcass weight did not differ between the breed types but BB had a higher kill-out proportion,
better carcass conformation and lower carcass fatness. Live-weight gains during the
preliminary period were 431, 914 and 1134 g/day (s.e. 31.8; P < 0.001) for the 0, 3 and 6
kg/day concentrate levels, respectively. Overall gains for the combined preliminary and
finishing periods for the treatments in the same order were 945, 1101 and 1081 g/day (s.e.
36.1; P < 0.01). There were few differences between the finishing treatments in slaughter
weight, carcass weight or carcass traits. It is concluded that general productivity is similar
for BB and LM but BB have superior carcass traits. Where a preliminary feeding period
precedes a finishing period on ad libitum concentrates, animals fed a low level of supplementary
concentrates require less feed energy to reach a fixed slaughter weight than those
fed none or a higher level of supplementary concentrates.