Optimum growth rate of Belgian Blue double-muscled replacement heifers

Fiems, L. O.; Brabander, D.L. De

doi:10.4314/sajas.v39i1.61179

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The heavier fetal weight of BBDM cattle compared to non-DM cattle [ 117 ], rising up to 50 kg in BBDM calves at birth [ 118 ] may increase dystocia. The ratio of calf birth weight to dam weight averaged 9.0% for primiparous BBDM cows [ 119 ] vs. 8.3% ( P < 0.001) for multiparous BBDM cows [ 120 ], compared to 7.5 and 6.5% for primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows, respectively [ 121 ]. The discrepancy between the underdeveloped maternal reproductive tract and the increased calf birth weight has made caesarean section an elective operation [ 122 ].…”

Section: Consequences Of the Inactivation Of Myostatin On Conformamentioning

confidence: 99%

Double Muscling in Cattle: Genes, Husbandry, Carcasses and Meat

Fiems¹

2012

Animals

112

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Simple SummarySelection for an increased meatiness in beef cattle has resulted in double-muscled (DM) animals, owing to the inactivation of the myostatin gene. These animals are characterized by an excellent conformation and an extremely high carcass yield, coinciding with a reduced organ mass. As a consequence, voluntary feed intake is reduced, but feed efficiency is considerably improved, although maintenance requirements are not clearly reduced. DM animals are more susceptible to respiratory disease, stress and dystocia, requiring extra attention for accommodation and welfare. Carcasses of DM animals are very lean, and intramuscular fat content is low. The fatty acid profile is different when compared with non-DM animals, containing less saturated fatty acids. Collagen content of the meat is lower, so that meat from double-muscled animals is mostly more tender. However, meat tenderness, color and juiciness are not always improved. A different metabolism as a consequence of faster glycolytic myofibers can be partly responsible for this phenomenon. DM animals are interesting for the producer and butcher, and beneficial for the consumer, if an appropriate nutrition and accommodation, and adequate slaughter conditions are taken into account.AbstractMolecular biology has enabled the identification of the mechanisms whereby inactive myostatin increases skeletal muscle growth in double-muscled (DM) animals. Myostatin is a secreted growth differentiation factor belonging to the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. Mutations make the myostatin gene inactive, resulting in muscle hypertrophy. The relationship between the different characteristics of DM cattle are defined with possible consequences for livestock husbandry. The extremely high carcass yield of DM animals coincides with a reduction in the size of most vital organs. As a consequence, DM animals may be more susceptible to respiratory disease, urolithiasis, lameness, nutritional stress, heat stress and dystocia, resulting in a lower robustness. Their feed intake capacity is reduced, necessitating a diet with a greater nutrient density. The modified myofiber type is responsible for a lower capillary density, and it induces a more glycolytic metabolism. There are associated changes for the living animal and post-mortem metabolism alterations, requiring appropriate slaughter conditions to maintain a high meat quality. Intramuscular fat content is low, and it is characterized by more unsaturated fatty acids, providing healthier meat for the consumer. It may not always be easy to find a balance between the different disciplines underlying the livestock husbandry of DM animals to realize a good performance and health and meat quality.

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Section: Consequences Of the Inactivation Of Myostatin On Conformamentioning

confidence: 99%

Double Muscling in Cattle: Genes, Husbandry, Carcasses and Meat

Fiems¹

2012

Animals

112

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“…The average daily gain of 0.83 kg was far above the threshold of 0.6 kg to safeguard the development of double-muscled females during their subsequent life (Fiems & De Brabander 2009). Overall rate of gain was not affected by treatment, weaning method or CL.…”

Section: Performance During the Entire Rearing Periodmentioning

confidence: 83%

Effect of milk replacer feeding program on performance of Belgian Blue double-muscled rearing calves

Fiems¹,

Boever²,

Vanacker³

2013

Arch. Anim. Breed.

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Abstract. One hundred and four Belgian Blue double-muscled calves were divided into four groups to examine the effects of different milk replacer (MR) programs. Calves in treatment group 1 received a MR diet reconstituted at 125 g/l, fed at 10 % of their initial live weight in two meals daily. Weaning occurred abruptly at a concentrate intake of 0.5 kg/d. Treatment 2 was similar to treatment 1, except that weaning occurred at a concentrate intake of 0.75 kg/d. Treatment 3 was similar to treatment 2, except that MR was fed once daily at 5 % of initial body weight from a concentrate intake of 0.5 kg/d onwards. Treatment 4 was similar to treatment 3, except that MR at a concentration of 200 g/l was fed once daily from the third week until a concentrate intake of 0.5 kg/d. Similar concentrates and grass hay were fed. Pre-weaning gain averaged 0.51, 0.57, 0.56 and 0.53 kg/d, respectively (P < 0.05; SEM: 0.01). Daily nutrient intake was lowest for treatment 1. No effect on diarrhoea was found. Post-weaning gain did not differ among treatments. Daily gain during the whole rearing period (20 weeks) averaged 0.83 kg and was not affected by treatment. Calves assigned to treatment 1 had a lower daily intake of MR, while feed efficiency tended to be worse. Weaning can be successfully accelerated by skipping over a meal when concentrate intake exceeded 0.5 kg/d, or by combining one MR meal daily with an increased concentration of 200 g/l from an age of three weeks onwards.

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“…Therefore, blood ow to the core of the cow will be lower, resulting in a decrease in the amount of nutrients being transferred to the fetus (Koçak et al 2007). The next reason might be due to the better diet of the pregnant cows (Fiems et al 2009). In Belgium, in the last trimester of pregnancy, spring calving cows are stabled and offered a high-quality ration in comparison to pregnant cows that are in pasture.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of season of birth on the morphometrics of newborn Belgian Blue calves

Tuska

Residiwati

Eetvelde

et al. 2022

Trop Anim Health Prod

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Breed type and environmental factors such as breeding season may have a signi cant impact on neonatal weight loss calf size. We followed a total of 236 elective cesarean sections in Belgian Blue (BB) cattle, in which neonatal calves were morphometrically measured (in cm) in the rst 72 hours after delivery of the child using a strictly standardized protocol. The in uence of the season of birth on each calf measurement was analyzed using a mixed linear regression models, including farm of origin as a random effect. Calves born in spring had a longer diagonal length (P = 0.05) (69.7 ± 1.24) than those born in autumn (66.9 ± 1.16). The tibial length of calves born in spring (35.8 ± 0.48) was longer (P> 0.02) than those born in autumn (33.1 ± 0.57) or summer (34.1 ± 0.49). Calves born in autumn have a shorter head diameter (P> 0.02) (12.9 ± 0.23) than those born in summer (12.6 ± 0.29) or winter (13.5 ± 0.22). For all other parameters, no differences were found (P> 0.08). Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the birth season in uences the morphometrics of neonatal BB calves, with a tendency for spring to be associated with the largest body size. The latter is important to know to avoid dystocia when BB cattle are crossed with other breeds.

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Optimum growth rate of Belgian Blue double-muscled replacement heifers

Cited by 5 publications

References 16 publications

Double Muscling in Cattle: Genes, Husbandry, Carcasses and Meat

Double Muscling in Cattle: Genes, Husbandry, Carcasses and Meat

Effect of milk replacer feeding program on performance of Belgian Blue double-muscled rearing calves

The effect of season of birth on the morphometrics of newborn Belgian Blue calves

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