The Effect of Beef Production System on the Health Performance Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Holstein Bulls

摘要

Dairy-origin beef accounts for a considerable proportion of the prime beef supply. Yet, the beef production potential of dairy bred calves is declining following years of single trait selection for attributes such as milk yield. Producing these animals as bulls allows for increased growth rates and efficiency in comparison to steers, however these systems often involve a high level of concentrate feeding. Thus, creating a system that is subject to fluctuating feed prices and beef market volatility. This objective of this study was to evaluate four production systems, which differed in terms of diet during the grower period. The impacts on health, performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality were all considered. Our research shows that ad libitum concentrate feeding throughout the production system resulted in superior carcass weights. Increasing the proportion of grazed grass in the diet during the grower period, did result in a reduced carcass weight in comparison to ad libitum concentrates, however total concentrate intake, and therefore the production costs during the grower period were also reduced. Production system had no effect on health or meat quality. In conclusion, including a gazing period within bull beef production systems may be a more sustainable approach to producing Holstein bulls.