Currently in Northern Ireland 47% of prime beef production is sourced from the dairy herd, and this proportion is likely to increase post implementation of the Mid Term Review of the Common Agricultural Policy. Whilst Holstein Friesian cows form the main blood line within the dairy herd there is currently major interest in the use of alternative dairy breeds and cross breeding as a way of improving herd fertility and longevity. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of two pure dairy breeds and their reciprocal crosses on the performance of finishing beef cattle.

Feed accounts for a large proportion of the costs of finishing beef cattle. Concentrate supplements are fed either as coarse or pelleted rations. Method of ration preparation may affect feed intake and animal performance. Currently in Northern Ireland 55% of beef farmers are part time and consequently feeding concentrates in one feed per day is a practical option on many units to reduce labour requirement. The effects of method of processing concentrate supplement and number of feeds per day on forage intake and animal performance were also evaluated in this study.