Twenty indigenous Cika and 20 young Simmental bulls (slaughtered at 560–718 days) were finished on two diets (extensive vs semi-intensive). When fed similar rations, Cika bulls at a ‘suitable’ finished level, had a significantly higher dressing percentage (+2.5%), more total fat (+13.7%), a lower percentage of tendons (–22.7%) and bones (–7.7%), a higher lean meat to bones ratio (+8.1%) and a greater percentage of intramuscular fat(+45.9%) than the Simmental bulls. Their meat also had a significantly lower pH (–4.0%), higher redness (+13.74%), yellowness (+15.0%) and drip loss (after 2 days, +28.3%) and a more intense flavour (+6.1%). Cika fat contained higher proportions of saturated fatty acids (+6.86%) and less polyunsaturated fatty acids (–30.8%) than Simmental fat. However, it appears that the main difference between these two breeds were the slower growth rate of the Cika and their lower weight but greater age when a finished state was reached relative to the Simmental.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3839368
This study aimed at comparing the effects of a traditional ?nishing roughage-based diet and a higher energy diet, on growth, carcass characteristics, and feeding behaviour of Slovenian Cika and Simmental bulls (20 per breed). The experimental diets were: extensive (EXT) based on grass silage, and semi-intensive (S-INT) in which a part of the roughage was replaced with maize silage and sun?ower meal. Each diet was fed ad libitum to 10 Cika (547 days old) and 10 Simmental (442 days old) bulls housed in group pens of ?ve animals each. Growth performance was similar in both breeds, but Cika reached commercial ?nishing 1 month earlier than Simmental (139 vs 167 days; P = 0.016). Bulls fed S-INT had higher ?nal weight (645.3 vs 590.1 kg; P = 0.05), average daily growth (1.05 vs 0.83 kg; P = 0.026), and feed intake (11.7 vs 10.6 kg dry matter (DM)/day; P(0.001) than EXT bulls. Regardless of breed and diet, bulls ate 77–80% of the daily DM in the ?rst 8 h after feed delivery. Bulls fed EXT showed longer standing (406.4 vs 355.8 min; P ( 0.001) and eating (217.2 vs 155.3 min; P ( 0.001) and shorter ruminating (77.5 vs 92.9 min; P ( 0.001) times than S-INT bulls during the ?rst 8 h of feed delivery. Cika bulls had lower full reticulo-rumen weights relative to slaughter weights (8.7 vs 10.7%; P = 0.002) than Simmental. The positive ?ndings obtained with Cika cattle should encourage farmers to ?nish their young Cika male stocks for beef production, thus contributing to the maintenance of this animal genetic resource, and also to increase the energy density of the grass-based ?nishing diets by feeding supplements.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3293320
The aim of the study was to determine fatty acid composition in meat of Cika and Simmental bulls from two different fattening technologies. The herd of 39 young bulls was housed during the winter time and fed the same total mixed ration diet (TMR) based on corn and grass silage with a limited amount of concentrates. In the spring bulls of both breeds were divided into two subgroups. Bulls in the first subgroup (10 Cika, 9 Simmental; S-INT) were fattened indoors with the semi-intensive TMR. Bulls in the second subgroup (10 Cika, 10 Simmental; G+S-INT) were put on all-day grazing in the pasture. After grazing period bulls were housed under the same conditions as the first subgroup. Samples of M. longissimus dorsi were collected from the right carcass side to determine the total fat content and the fatty acid composition. The breed significantly influenced fatty acid composition in meat. The beef of Simmental bulls resulted in higher percentage of PUFA and lower percentage of SFA and MUFA. Higher percentage of n-3 and n-6 PUFA was determined in meat of Simmental bulls but the n-6/n-3 ratio was lower in Cika bulls meat. The fattening technology had less effect on FA composition in meat. The second grazing period produced higher percentage of SFA, beneficially lower values of n-6/n-3 ratio and higher values of long-chain C20-22n-3 PUFA. Higher CLA percentage was determined in beef from S-INT group.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3622024
Beef recording data was analysed for Simmental (LS), Limousin (LIM), Charolais (CHA) and beef breeds crosses with dual purpose breeds (CR), for the period from 1998 to 2014. Using live body weights (TM) (at birth, on 90 days of age, 210 days of age and 365 days of age) body weight gains (PTM) and theoretical metabolizable energy (ME, in MJ/kg PTM) consumption were estimated. Maintenance requirements of suckling cow, maintenance requirements of bull, and ME for the PTM were estimated separately. The highest total ME requirements (PKVP) had calves younger than 8 months while the lowest PKVP was estimated for the bulls aged between 12 and 24 months (134 MJ/kg PTM vs. 106 MJ/kg PTM). The highest efficiency had LS breed (PKVP = 115 MJ/kg PTM) and crossbreds (116 MJ/kg PTM). CHA breed (126 MJ/kg PTM) and LIM breed (131 MJ/kg PTM) were considerably less efficient. When comparing animals of the same age, the highest efficiency occurs at the highest intensity of fattening. Lower quarter of animals (sorted by daily gain) had the worst energy efficiency (CHA breed with PKVP of 147 MJ/kg PTM, where age of slaughter was 34 months and daily gain 444 grams; LIM breed with PKVP of 184 MJ/kg PTM, where age of slaughter was 38 months and daily gain 500 grams). The highest quarter of animals (sorted by daily gain) were also the most efficient (LS breed: PKVP = 94 MJ/kg PTM, age at slaughter = 20 months, PTM = 1210 grams per day; crossbreds: PKVP = 91 MJ/kg PTM, age at slaughter = 21 months, PTM = 1275 grams per day).
COBISS.SI-ID: 4877416
In Slovenia, more than half of all agricultural land in use are permanent grassland. Therefore it is not surprising that breading cattle and milk production are the most important agricultural activities. It is known that better production and economic results of fattening cattle are achieved by using feed from fields, so it is often asked whether the issue of fattening on permanent grassland can be economically justified. We looked for the answer using simulation models, presenting results at 12 scenarios of fattening cattle on permanent grassland. We have identified and confirmed that the key factors for the proper economic outcome are ensuring the quality of feed and the appropriate intensity of fattening. Thus, a good result (a coefficient of economy - KEK is above 1) is shown in the case of bulls for up to 24 months, where, at daily gain of 1.250 g/day and very good feed from 150 to 650 kg of body weight, is 1.01. A comparable economic result (1.03) can also be achieved in the case of heifers, fattened from 150 to 500 kg of body weight and daily gain of 1.160 g/day. The worst result (KEK is 0.56) is reflected in the event of a prolongation of the period of fattening bulls by using feed of poor quality and inadequate feeding. The issue of fattening oxen will be economically not interesting considering the revenue and cost ratio of 2015, but it can become interesting under different sales conditions, which is also true in case of other categories at poorer production results.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5390952