Fattening performance of Angus and Hérens yearlings on a semi-intensive finishing diet after weaning | Performances zootechniques du broutards Angus et Hérens en finition semi-intensive après le sevrage
2008
Chassot, A., Station de recherche Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux ALP, Posieux (Switzerland)
The suitability of an herbage based, semi-intensive finishing diet was tested in an indoor feeding trial with two beef cattle types. Castrated male and female (1:3) Angus (An) and Hérens (Hr) suckler calves were weaned at the age of ten months. They were raised by suckler cows which were exclusively fed grassland based forage. The basic finishing diet consisted of grass silage and hay which were mixed at a ratio of 3:1 on a dry matter basis. During the first three months, the supplementation of the basic ration was kept to a minimum. A supplemental energy-rich concentrate was used only during the final phase of finishing. This marked the moment of increased growth rates of +18% compared to the pre-weaning growth period. On average, An and Hr yearlings attained growth rates of 1.1 kg and 0.9 kg/day, respectively. The post-weaning finishing markedly improved carcase conformation (meatiness). With respect to the fatness score, 50% of An and 13% of Hr were judged overfat although carcase weight did not exceed 250 kg. In conclusion, the results support the suitability of the chosen finishing mode for both cattle types. However, feeding intensity should be reduced slightly whith finishing Angus yearlings.
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