The analysis of rearing results for 187;Pohorje beef 171; calves | Analiza rezultatov pitanja telet 187;Pohorje beef 171;
2009
Prevolnik, M., Agricultural Inst. of Slovenia, Ljubljana (Slovenia) | Juric, N. | Skorjanc, D. | Moljk, B. | Candek-Potokar, M.
Growth rate and carcass quality were analyzed for suckling calves of trade mark Pohorje beef' (N=634) i.e., older calves (8-12 months old) of Simmental×Limousin crossing reared on organic farms of Pohorje and Kozjak. Data (age at slaughter, warm carcass weight, conformation and fatness grades according to EUROP classification) were collected within a five-year period (2003-2008). Additionally, net daily gain (of warm carcass weight) was calculated. Growth rate and carcass quality of Pohorje beef' calves was analyzed in comparison to older calves of various genotypes and rearing systems (N=2980) and to young cattle of Simmental×Limousin crossing from the same, organic farms (N=271). At slaughter, Pohorje beef' males were 324 days old and had 220 kg of warm carcass weight, giving 682 g/day net daily gain, whereas Pohorje beef' females were slaughtered on average at 332 days and 187 kg of weight, giving net daily gain of 567 g/day. Compared to older calves of pure breeds of various rearing systems, Pohorje beef' calves exhibited better net daily gain and conformation, while the differences with meat breed crosses were insignificant. The differences were smaller in case of females than males (significant interaction between breeds/crossbreeds and sex). The comparison of Pohorje beef' to older cattle category of the same genotype reared on the same farms showed that prolonged rearing is not economically interesting. Although 110 days older, young organic cattle of the same genotype was only 19 kg heavier than Pohorje beef' calves, demonstrating growth stagnation, reflected in lower net daily gain and lower conformation. Again, significant interaction between the sex and age category indicates that the consequences of prolonged fattening were less expressed in heifers than in bulls. The analysis of costs shows, that the current price for suckling calves Pohorje beef' covers about a half of total costs and that such rearing becomes economically interesting only with various subsidies according to agricultural policy. However, even in that case the minimum herd size must be 20 suckling cows. In practice, many farmers are self-organised for the sale of their meat, which enables them to get a higher price, which covers the costs even in smaller herds.
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