Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T17:21:45.365Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of pre-weaning concentrate feeding on calf performance, carcass and meat quality of autumn-born bull calves weaned at 90 or 150 days of age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2008

M. Blanco
Affiliation:
Unidad de Tecnología en Producción Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Gobierno de Aragón, PB 727, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain
D. Villalba
Affiliation:
Departament de Producció Animal, Universitat de Lleida, Avda, Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
G. Ripoll
Affiliation:
Unidad de Tecnología en Producción Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Gobierno de Aragón, PB 727, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain
H. Sauerwein
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Physiology and Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn, Katzenburgweg 7-9, 53115 Bonn, Germany
I. Casasús*
Affiliation:
Unidad de Tecnología en Producción Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Gobierno de Aragón, PB 727, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain
Get access

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pre-weaning concentrate feeding in early-weaned (EW, day 90) or traditionally weaned (TW, day 150) autumn-born beef calves on growth, feed intake and feed efficiency, and carcass and meat quality. Twenty-eight male calves were either EW or TW, and offered a starter concentrate (S) or no additional feed (NS) during the pre-weaning period. Therefore, four management strategies were tested: EWS, EWNS, TWS and TWNS. Growth patterns were affected by management strategy. From day 90 to 150, TWNS calves presented a substantially lower average daily gain (ADG) than their counterparts, which had similar performance. During the finishing phase (from day 150 to slaughter at 450 kg live weight), EWS calves had the lowest ADG. Daily feed intake or efficiency in the finishing phase was unaffected by previous management. Serum IGF-I concentrations at day 90 and slaughter did not differ with management strategy, but early weaning and pre-weaning concentrate feeding increased IGF-I concentrations at day 150. Circulating leptin concentrations were unaffected by age at weaning and pre-weaning concentrate feeding, except for leptin concentrations at slaughter, which were higher in S calves than in NS calves. Total concentrate intake from birth to slaughter and the concomitant feed costs were higher for EWS and EWNS calves than for TWNS and TWS ones. However, cow feed costs were lower for cows whose calves had been early weaned. Concerning carcass quality, early weaning improved dressing percentage and increased fatness score, and particularly TWNS calves presented a poorer conformation. Meat quality was not affected by management strategy. Considering the economic performance, TWS, EWNS and EWS strategies yielded a similar economic margin, whereas TWNS would be the least advisable strategy when calves are fattened in the farm until slaughter.

Type
Full Paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Albertí, P, Panea, B, Ripoll, G, Sañudo, C, Olleta, JL, Negueruela, I, Campo, MM, Serra, X 2005. Medición del color. In Estandarización de las metodologías para evaluar la calidad del producto (animal vivo, canal, carne y grasa) en los rumiantes (ed. V Cañeque and C Sañudo), pp. 216225. MCyT-INIA, Madrid, Spain.Google Scholar
AOAC 1995. Official methods of analysis. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA, USA.Google Scholar
Barker-Neef, JM, Buskirk, DD, Blackt, JR, Doumit, ME, Rust, SR 2001. Biological and economic performance of early-weaned Angus steers. Journal of Animal Science 79, 27622769.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bartle, SJ, Males, JR, Preston, RL 1984. Effect of energy intake on the postpartum interval in beef cows and the adequacy of the cow’s milk production for calf growth. Journal of Animal Science 58, 10681074.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bellmann, O, Wegner, J, Rehfeldt, C, Teuscher, F, Schneider, F, Voigt, J, Derno, M, Sauerwein, H, Weingärtner, J, Ender, K 2004. Beef versus dairy cattle: a comparison of metabolically relevant hormones, enzymes, and metabolites. Livestock Production Science 89, 4154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blanco, M, Ripoll, G, Albertí, P, Sanz, A, Revilla, R, Villalba, D, Casasús, I 2007. Effect of early weaning on performance, carcass and meat quality of spring-born bull calves raised in dry mountain areas. Livestock Science, doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.07.012.Google Scholar
Casasús, I, Bernués, A, Sanz, A, Revilla, R 2001a. Alimentación de la vaca y el ternero durante la lactación y el cebo en sistemas extensivos de montaña: (I) Rendimientos del rebaño en lactación. ITEA Producción Animal Extra, 433435.Google Scholar
Casasús, I, Bernués, A, Sanz, A, Alzón, M, Eguinoa, P 2001b. Alimentación de la vaca y el ternero durante la lactación y el cebo en sistemas extensivos de montaña: (II) Rendimientos de los terneros en cebo y eficiencia biológica. ITEA Producción Animal Extra, 436438.Google Scholar
Casasús, I, Bernués, A, Sanz, A, Riedel, JL, Revilla, R 2005. Utilization of Mediterranean forest pastures by suckler cows: animal performance and impact on vegetation dynamics. In Animal production and natural resources utilisation in the Mediterranean mountain areas (ed. A Georgoudis, A Rosati and C Mosconi), pp. 8288. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, The Netherlands.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Casasús, I, Blanco, M, Sanz, A, Bernués, A, Revilla, R 2006. Considerations on the impact of early weaning of fall-born beef calves on system efficiency and potential use of pastures. In Quality production and quality of the environment in the mountain pastures of an enlarged Europe (ed. K Biala, J Nösberger, G Parente and A Peeters), pp. 285294. ERSA-Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo Rurale, Gorizia, Italy.Google Scholar
Casasús, I, Bernués, A, Sanz, A, Villalba, D, Riedel, JL, Revilla, R 2007. Vegetation dynamics in Mediterranean forests pastures as affected by beef cattle grazing. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 121, 365370.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chilliard, Y, Bocquier, F, Delavaud, C, Faulconnier, Y, Bonnet, M, Guerre Millo, M, Martin, P, Ferlay, A 1999. La leptine chez le ruminant. Facteurs de variation physiologiques et nutritionnels. INRA Productions Animales 12, 225237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corah, LR, Bishop, AH 1975. Effect of creep feeding oat grain to beef calves on their growth rate, carcase composition and post-weaning performance in a feedlot. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 15, 293298.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cozzi, G, Gottardo, F, Mattiello, S, Canali, E, Scanziani, E, Verga, M, Andrighetto, I 2002. The provision of solid feeds to veal calves: I. Growth performance, forestomach development, and carcass and meat quality. Journal of Animal Science 80, 357366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duckett, SK, Wagner, DG, Yates, LD, Dolezal, HG, May, SG 1993. Effects of time on feed on beef nutrient composition. Journal of Animal Science 71, 20792088.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elsasser, TH, Rumsey, TS, Hammon, HM 1989. Influence of diet on basal and growth hormone-stimulated plasma concentrations of IGF-1 in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 67, 128141.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Faulkner, DB, Hummel, DF, Buskirk, DD, Berger, LL, Parrett, DF, Cmarik, GF 1994. Performance and nutrient metabolism by nursing calves supplemented with limited or unlimited corn or soyhulls. Journal of Animal Science 72, 470477.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fluharty, FL, Loerch, SC 1996. Effects of dietary energy source and level on performance of newly arrived feedlot calves. Journal of Animal Science 74, 504513.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fluharty, FL, Loerch, SC, Turner, TB, Moeller, SJ, Lowe, GD 2000. Effects of weaning age and diet on growth and carcass characteristics in steers. Journal of Animal Science 78, 17591767.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gaines, WL 1928. The energy basis of measuring milk yield in dairy cows. Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 308, 403438.Google Scholar
Geary, TW, McFadin, EL, MacNeil, MD, Grings, EE, Short, RE, Funston, RN, Keisler, DH 2003. Leptin as a predictor of carcass composition in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 81, 18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hennessy, DW, Morris, SG, Allingham, PG 2001. Improving the pre-weaning nutrition of calves by supplementation of the cow and/or calf while grazing low quality pastures: 2. Calf growth, carcass yield and eating quality. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 715724.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Higashiyama, Y, Abe, H, Hayashi, M, Hodate, K 2003. The comparison of plasma level and mRNA expression of leptin from Japanese Black steers and Holstein steers. Livestock Production Science 81, 247255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Honikel, KO 1998. Reference methods for the assessment of physical characteristics of meat. Meat Science 49, 447457.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
INRA 1978. Alimentation des ruminants. INRA Publications, Versailles, France.Google Scholar
Le Du, YLP, Macdonald, AJ, Peart, JN 1979. Comparison of two techniques for estimating the milk production of suckler cows. Livestock Production Science 6, 277281.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, TG, Lemenager, RP, Srinivasan, G, Alenda, R 1981. Creep feed as a factor influencing performance of cows and calves. Journal of Animal Science 53, 3339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meyer, DL, Kerley, MS, Walker, EL, Keisler, DH, Pierce, VL, Schmidt, TB, Stahl, CA, Linville, ML, Berg, EP 2005. Growth rate, body composition, and meat tenderness in early vs. traditionally weaned beef calves. Journal of Animal Science 83, 27522761.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Myers, SE, Faulkner, DB, Ireland, FA, Berger, LL, Parrett, DF 1999. Production systems comparing early weaning to normal weaning with or without creep feeding for beef steers. Journal of Animal Science 77, 300310.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
JrNeville, WE, McCormick, WC 1981. Performance of early- and normal-weaned beef calves and their dams. Journal of Animal Science 52, 715724.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parkins, JJ, Morris, CA, Wilton, JW 1977. Estimates of creep feed requirements of nursing calves and the total energy requirements of both cow and calf to produce the weaned calf. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 57, 5364.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prichard, DL, Hargrove, DD, Olson, TA, Marshall, TT 1989. Effects of creep feeding, zeranol implants and breed type on beef production: 1. Calf and cow performance. Journal of Animal Science 67, 609616.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Renaville, R, Van Eenaeme, C, Breier, BH, Vleurick, L, Bertozzi, C, Gengler, N, Hornick, JL, Parmentier, I, Istasse, L, Haezenbroeck, V, Massart, S, Portetelle, D 2000. Feed restriction in young bulls alters the onset of puberty in relationship with plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding proteins. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 18, 165176.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ryan, WJ, Williams, IH, Moir, RJ 1993. Compensatory growth in sheep and cattle. 1. Growth pattern and feed intake. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, 16091621.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sauerwein, H, Heintges, U, Hennies, M, Selhorst, T, Daxenberger, A 2004. Growth hormone induced alterations of leptin serum concentrations in dairy cows as measured by a novel enzyme immunoassay. Livestock Production Science 87, 189195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schoonmaker, JP, Fluharty, FL, Loerch, SC, Turner, TB, Moeller, SJ, Wulf, DM 2001. Effect of weaning status and implant regimen on growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of steers. Journal of Animal Science 79, 10741084.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schoonmaker, JP, Cecava, MJ, Fluharty, FL, Zerby, HN, Loerch, SC 2004. Effect of source and amount of energy and rate of growth in the growing phase on performance and carcass characteristics of early- and normal-weaned steers. Journal of Animal Science 82, 273282.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Story, CE, Rasby, RJ, Clark, RT, Milton, CT 2000. Age of calf at weaning of spring-calving beef cows and the effect on cow and calf performance and production economics. Journal of Animal Science 78, 14031413.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tarr, SL, Faulkner, DB, Buskirk, DD, Ireland, FA, Parrett, DF, Berger, LL 1994. The value of creep feeding during the last 84, 56, or 28 days prior to weaning on growth performance of nursing calves grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue. Journal of Animal Science 72, 10841094.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tor, M, Estany, J, Francesch, A, Cubiló, MD 2005. Comparison of fatty acid profiles of edible meat, adipose tissues and muscles between cocks and capons. Animal Research 54, 413424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar