Performance of Bulls and Steers under Similar Feeding and Management Conditions

Harte, F. J.

doi:10.1007/978-94-009-6024-4_11

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…The lower live weight of the bulls at housing compared with the steers in the present study, simply reflects the poor grazing conditions. Harte (1984) stated that "their behaviour is likely to be at its worst if the land is wet, if they have no shelter, if they are paddock grazed and if they in large groups". All these elements were in place in the present study.…”

Section: Animal Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Beef production from Holstein–Friesian, Norwegian Red×Holstein–Friesian and Jersey×Holstein–Friesian male cattle reared as bulls or steers

et al. 2015

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Section: Animal Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Beef production from Holstein–Friesian, Norwegian Red×Holstein–Friesian and Jersey×Holstein–Friesian male cattle reared as bulls or steers

et al. 2015

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“…Bulls are renowned for agonistic and sexual behavior ( 69 ), and being generally more unsettled that steers. The likelihood of which is amplified if conditions are wet, bulls are grazed in large groups or have a lack of shelter in a paddock grazing system ( 70 ). This can lead to increased poaching and a reduction in the grazable area.…”

Section: Bull Beef Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Beef Production Systems for the Sustainable Use of Surplus Male Dairy-Origin Calves Within the UK

2021

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The UK dairy herd is predominantly of the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed, with a major emphasis placed on milk yield. Subsequently, following years of continued single-trait selection, the beef production potential of dairy bred calves has declined. Thus, male HF calves are commonly seen as a by-product of the dairy industry. Limited markets, perceived low economic value and high rearing costs mean that these surplus calves are often euthanised shortly after birth or exported to the EU for further production. Welfare concerns have been raised regarding both euthanasia and long distance transportation of these calves. Furthermore, total UK beef consumption increased by 8.5% from 2009 to 2019. Thus, in light of this growing demand, beef from the dairy herd could be better utilized within the UK. Therefore, the potential for these calves to be used in a sustainable, cost-effective beef production system with high welfare standards within the UK requires investigation. Thus, the aim of this review was to evaluate both steer and bull beef production systems, examining the impact on performance, health, welfare, and economic potential to enable a sustainable farming practice, while meeting UK market requirements. The principal conclusions from this review indicate that there is the potential for these calves to be used in UK based production systems and meet market requirements. Of the steer production systems, a 24 month system appears to achieve a balance between input costs, growth from pasture and carcass output, albeit the literature is undecided on the optimum system. The situation is similar for bull beef production systems, high input systems do achieve the greatest gain in the shortest period of time, however, these systems are not sustainable in volatile markets with fluctuating concentrate prices. Thus, again the inclusion of a grazing period, may increase the resilience of these systems. Furthermore, production systems incorporating a period at pasture are seen to have animal welfare benefits. The main welfare concern for surplus dairy bred calves is often poor colostrum management at birth. While in steer systems, consideration needs to be given to welfare regarding castration, with the negative impacts being minimized by completing this procedure soon after birth.

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“…Numerous studies have shown that under good growing conditions with regard to nutrition and other aspects of the environment, bulls grow about 10-20% faster than steers (reviewed by Field 1971 ;Seidemen et al 1982;Purchas 1991), but when conditions are less favourable the advantage has been less clear (Price & Yeates 1971 ;Mickan et al 1976;Harte 1984), possibly because of the higher maintenance requirements for bulls (Webster 1977;Griffiths 1980). The ARC feed requirement estimates, for example, give a 15% higher maintenance requirement for a bull than for a steer or heifer (ARC 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liveweight gain and carcass characteristics of bulls and steers farmed on hill country

Purchas

Grant

1995

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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Liveweight gain and carcass and meat characteristics of Friesian bulls (n = 40) were compared with those of Hereford × Friesian bulls (n = 40) and Friesian × (Hereford × Angus) steers (n = 40). The cattle were grazed together on hill country from about 4 months, and were slaughtered either at c. 20 months (the heaviest animals at that time) or c. 28 months. Growth rates of the two bull groups were similar, and for both, were significantly higher than for the steer group. The Hereford-cross group of bulls had a higher dressing-out percentage (50.0) than either of the other groups (49.0), and their carcasses were 3.5% shorter than those of the Friesian bulls at the same weight. Kidney and pelvic fat weight and percentage intramuscular fat were similar for the two bull groups, but fat depth was greater for the Hereford-cross bulls. All measures of fatness were significantly greater for the steer group, but their mean rib-eye area was less than for the Hereford-cross bulls (63.2 versus 69.7 cm 2 ). Beef from bulls had a higher mean ultimate pH (6.11 versus 5.64), and an associated darker colour and shorter sarcomere lengths. After adjustment to a constant pH, these differences were no longer apparent, but bull beef had a higher pH-adjusted cooking loss (27.1 versus 24.5%). The results were consistent with the suggestion that the increased shear force associated with an increase in ultimate pH from 5.5 to about 6.2 resulted in part from some muscle contraction. Meat from the 28-month group had higher Warner-Bratzler shear values and a darker colour after adjustment for differences in pH.

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Performance of Bulls and Steers under Similar Feeding and Management Conditions

Cited by 4 publications

References 1 publication

Beef production from Holstein–Friesian, Norwegian Red×Holstein–Friesian and Jersey×Holstein–Friesian male cattle reared as bulls or steers

Beef production from Holstein–Friesian, Norwegian Red×Holstein–Friesian and Jersey×Holstein–Friesian male cattle reared as bulls or steers

A Review of Beef Production Systems for the Sustainable Use of Surplus Male Dairy-Origin Calves Within the UK

Liveweight gain and carcass characteristics of bulls and steers farmed on hill country

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