Fattening efficiency of Angus cattle for marbled meat production in organic farming system | Angus šķirnes liellopu nobarošanas efektivitāte marmorizētas gaļas ieguvei bioloģiskās lauksaimniecības sistēmā
2021
Aplocina, E., Latvia Univ. of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava (Latvia). Faculty of Agriculture. Inst. of Animal Sciences | Kreismane, D., Latvia Univ. of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava (Latvia). Faculty of Agriculture. Inst. of Animal Sciences | Osane, A., Eko Dārzs, SIA, Vidriži Parish, Limbaži Municipality (Latvia) | Osans, A., Eco Onyx, SIA, Vidriži, Vidriži Parish, Limbaži Municipality (Latvia)
The study explains the effect of different types of grass forage on the fattening rates of beef cattle. Pure beef breed animal Angus were fed with different types of roughage (chopped or unchopped hay) at three different end stages of fattening (2, 3, or 5 months), and the influence of these factors on beef production was determined. Animals in both study groups received wheat concentrate ad libitum. Study group’s 1 (SS) bulls received chopped hay on the feed table, and Study group’s 2 (NS) animals received unchopped hay bales. At the start of intensive fattening at 20–21 months of age with an average live weight of 610–613 kg, bulls ate an average of 6.4 kg of rolled wheat in the first 63 days (39.8% of the ration dry matter), which was increased to 8.23 kg (50.3%) per day per animal in the following 34 days, but in the final phase of fattening the amount consumed in the last 57 days was decreased to 3.79 kg (24.8%) per day per animal. The lowest live weight gain (0.41–0.92 kg per day per animal) was achieved after 2 months of intensive fattening, while the highest live weight – 1.42–1.71 kg per day per animal was achieved during the three-month intensive fattening period. Better fattening rates were achieved in the SS group. The carcass yield for pure-bred Angus bulls was 53% in the NS group and 59% in the SS group. M. Longissimus dorsi muscular marbling according to the AUS-MEAT system corresponded to grades 3 to 6, which shows that Angus cattle with proper housing and feeding in the organic farming system have the opportunity to achieve good steak marbling and obtain high quality meat, which is needed in the Latvian market and should be well appreciated by consumers.
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