An account is given of the rearing in one unit of 274 Friesian, Jersey, and FriesianJersey-cross male calves and of their subsequent growth to approximately 22-23 months of age. A sample of the 10 heaviest of each breed group was selected for slaughter at 22-23 months of age. The Friesian steers in this sample were 6.8% heavier than the Jersey steers. Their heavier carcass weight and higher grades gave them a monetary advantage of $NZ9.42 over the average Friesian-Jersey-cross carcass and an advantage of $NZ32.36 over the average Jersey carcass. The proportional composition of boneless, fat-trimmed meat, fat †Deceased A93005
Between 1967 and 1975, 416 beef animals were grazed rotationally on an indigenous pasture (11-65 ha) containing Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Poa trivialis and Agrostis spp. and dicotyledonous plants, but little Lolium perenne or TrifoUum repens. Part of the land received fertilizer nitrogen at rates varying between 120 and 200 kg ha~* each year and part did not; some of the land was grazed only and some was cut and then grazed.The winter gains of the animals (approx. 45 kg) were more variable and less than the summer gains (approx. 155 kg). Summer gain was inversely correlated with winter gain. An increase in initial weight of animals purchased from 1973 onwards did not increase either winter or summer gain. Friesians gained more than Hereford-cross animals during the winter, but there was no difference in summer gain.During 9 years the average animal weight per grazed ha in April was increased from 1260 to 2122 kg. The mean total gain on 11 65 ha of grass was 6486 kg per annum in the first 3 years and 7266 kg per annum in the last 3 years. The average annual production was 590 kg liveweight gain and 1-01 t hay or 2-33 t silage per ha. The output of fertilized grass in 1975 was calculated as 842 Livestock Unit Grazing Days (LUGD) per ha and that from unfertilized grass as 360 LUGD per ha. The overall output of
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