Performance, slaughter characteristics and meat quality of young bulls from Belgian Blue, Limousin and Aberdeen Angus breeds fattened with a sugar-beet pulp or a cereal-based diet

in Animal Science (2006), 82(Part 1), 125-132

Thirty-six young fattening bulls from three breeds (Belgian Blue, Limousin and Aberdeen Angus) were fattened over 5 months with fattening diets based either on sugar-beet pulp or on cereals. Fattening ... [more ▼]

Thirty-six young fattening bulls from three breeds (Belgian Blue, Limousin and Aberdeen Angus) were fattened over 5 months with fattening diets based either on sugar-beet pulp or on cereals. Fattening performance as well as carcass and meat characteristics were measured. There were few relevant effects of the diets on the parameters. The breeds also showed similar fattening features. However, the BB had higher killing-out proportion and their carcasses presented better scores in terms of conformation and fattening. The meat quality of the breeds differed, especially in terms of luminosity, redness and cooking losses. There were also significant influences of breed on the chemical composition of meat; fat content was lowest in Belgian Blue and highest in Aberdeen Angus. Such specificities could help to allocate breeds in appropriate niches in Belgium. [less ▲]

Effects of age on plasma metabolites and hormones in finishing Belgian Blue double-muscled cull females

in Animal Science (2004), 78(Part 2), 229-235

Two groups of 12 Belgian Blue double-muscled cull females were used successively in a 2-year repeated experiment and divided into three groups according to age, allowing four animals per group each year ... [more ▼]

Two groups of 12 Belgian Blue double-muscled cull females were used successively in a 2-year repeated experiment and divided into three groups according to age, allowing four animals per group each year. The aim of the trial was to relate, during the finishing period, the metabolic and endocrine parameters with age. Females were fattened with a diet based on maize silage and were blood sampled on several occasions. The average daily gain (ADG) decreased with the age of the cows. Plasma glucose and triglycerides decreased also with age while the youngest females showed lower concentrations of urea than those older. The composition of plasma non-esterified fatty acids also differed considerably between groups. The hormones that best related with ADG were IGF-1 and insulin. Plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones were lower in the oldest animals. No difference between groups was found for GH. Heifers presented lower concentrations of GH and IGF-1 than those reported elsewhere in fattening bulls of the same breed. It may be concluded that in Belgian Blue double-muscled females, glucose, IGF-1 and insulin are good indicators of the growth potential. Young adult cows presented intermediate characteristics of metabolic and endocrine status that were close either to younger or to older cows. [less ▲]

Different modes of food restriction and compensatory growth in double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls: plasma metabolites and hormones

in Animal Science (2003), 77

The effects of different sequences of food restriction and fattening have been studied on plasma metabolites and hormones in double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls. Twenty animals were divided into five groups ... [more ▼]

The effects of different sequences of food restriction and fattening have been studied on plasma metabolites and hormones in double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls. Twenty animals were divided into five groups. The first group (control, CG) was given, ad libitum, a fattening diet based on sugar-beet pulp. In G2 and G3, fattening was interrupted after 103 and 187 days, respectively, by a period of food restriction lasting about 2 months during which the animals received a maintenance ration. They were finished with the same diet as CG. The last two groups, G4 and G5, received a limited amount of the restriction diet to support 0.5 and 0 kg gain per day, respectively, for 4 months, before being fattened as CG. Plasma glucose, alpha-amino nitrogen, non-esterified fatty acids, urea, creatinine, thyroxine (T4), 3, 3', 5'-tri-iodothyroxine (T3), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured in blood samples taken every 2 weeks. Plasma GH and insulin profiles were measured in serial blood samples obtained at three different times during growth. Animals that showed compensatory growth had lower plasma urea, associated with high levels of T3, T4 and IGF-1. Animals from G2 and G3 failed to show compensatory growth. In Belgian Blue bulls, compensatory growth is markedly affected when food restriction is severe or fattening interrupted. [less ▲]

Prediction of carcass lean content by real-time ultrasound in Piétrain and negative stress Piétrain

in Animal Science (2002), 75

Comparison of performance, water intake and feeding behaviour of weaned pigs fed either pellets or meal

in Animal Science (1999), 69

Performance, water intake and feeding behaviour of two groups of 30 (trial 1), 40 (trial 2) or 50 (trial 3) weaned pigs offered either pellets ol meal of the same formulation were compared. Average daily ... [more ▼]

Performance, water intake and feeding behaviour of two groups of 30 (trial 1), 40 (trial 2) or 50 (trial 3) weaned pigs offered either pellets ol meal of the same formulation were compared. Average daily weight gains (ADG) were higher for pigs given pellets rather than meal in trials 2 (413 v. 363 g/day P < 0.001) and 3 (356 v. 324 g/day, P < 0.05). Mean daily water intake (DWI) was higher with meal than with pellets but only during trial 1 (2.31 y. 1.65 l/day, P < 0.01). The occupation time (OT) and the number of animals using the feeder simultaneously (N) were higher when pigs were given meal rather than pellets, whatever the animal density: trial 1: 82.6 v. 69.9% (P = 0.05) and 3.8 v. 2.3 (P < 0.01); trial 2: 90.9 v. 77.9% (P > 0.05) and 5.2 v. 3.1 (P < 0.01); trial 3: 96.2 v. 83.6% (P < 0.05) and 5.9 v. 3.8 (P < 0.01). When using pellets, OT and N were always significantly lower during the night than during the day but when using meal in groups of 40 and 50, OT during the night was almost as high as during the day. The greater the group size, the lower were ADG (both diets) and DWI (only with meal) and the higher were OT and N (both diets). Furthermore, significant linens and curvilinear regressions of DWI, OT and N according to time were calculated. In conclusion, pigs need more time to eat meal than to eat pellets. Thus the number of pigs per feeder has to be adapted to the food presentation. Too high number of pigs per feeder impairs feeding behaviour and eventually welfare, by preventing preferential diurnal feeding activity and this may affect productivity [less ▲]

Compensatory growth in Belgian Blue bulls previously maintained at two growing rates on pasture: animal performance and meat characteristics

in Animal Science (1998), 67(3), 427-434

A comparison was made between finishing systems with Belgian Blue bulls of the double-muscle type, in order to assess the response in terms of compensatory growth when bulls were grazed at a high stocking ... [more ▼]

A comparison was made between finishing systems with Belgian Blue bulls of the double-muscle type, in order to assess the response in terms of compensatory growth when bulls were grazed at a high stocking rate. Two groups of 8 bulls (256.5 kg liveweight) were grazed on Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens pasture during an initial period of 135 days (period I). One group grazed at a stocking rate of 6/ha allowing for normal growth at pasture (NGP); the other group grazed at a stocking rate of 10/ha (low growth at pasture, LGP). Both groups were then finished indoors (period II) with a concentrate based on dried sugarbeet pulp. Eight control bulls were also finished indoors on the concentrate diet during periods I and II (CG). Bulls were slaughtered according to a similar finishing state. Liveweight gains were 1.47, 1.10 and 0.52 kg daily (P<0.001) during period I in CG, NGP and LGP groups respectively. Corresponding liveweight gains during period II were 1.22, 1.37 and 1.50 kg daily. The LGP group had lower feed conversion ratios, slaughter weights (P<0.05) and dressing proportions (P<0.01). The meat from the grazed bulls had lower cooking losses (P<0.05) and tended to have lower drip losses and higher tenderness. It also had a higher cholesterol (P<0.05) content. Large differences were observed in the fatty acid composition according to fat location (subcutaneous, intermuscular or intramuscular). The proportions of mono and polyunsaturated acids increased in the adipose tissue of those previously grazed. [less ▲]

Effects of supplementation in Belgian Blue bulls finished at grass: animal performance, carcass and meat characteristic

in Animal Science (1996), 62(3), 653

Use of shelter by grazing bulls: effect of climatic factors

in Animal Science (1995), 60

The time spent under a shelter by eight grazing fattening bulls of the Belgian Blue breed in each of 3 years consecutively for a total of 48 days was recorded using a time-lapse recorder with infrared ... [more ▼]

The time spent under a shelter by eight grazing fattening bulls of the Belgian Blue breed in each of 3 years consecutively for a total of 48 days was recorded using a time-lapse recorder with infrared illumination. During one grazing period, data were collected over 35 days (experiment 1). Observations were divided into 166 h with rain (20%) and 674 h without precipitation (80%). The average occupation rates were 15.4 (s.e. 29.1)% for the hours with rain and 4.5 (s.e. 14.8)% for the hours without precipitation (P < 0.001). The effect of intensity and duration of rain on the occupation rate was significant from 0.4 l/m(2) or from 2 h. Experiment 2 (13 days of observation) examined the influence of temperature and solar radiation on the use of shelter. The occupation rates were 21 (s.e. 23)% during the daylight hours (07.00 to 19.00 h), 6 (s.e. 8)% during the night (19.00 to 07.00 h) and 14 (s.e. 14)% during a 24-h period. The occupation rate between 07.00 and 19.00 h was significantly correlated to the mean daily temperature (r = 0.75), the maximum daily temperature (r = 0.86) and the direct solar radiation time (r = 0.60). When the maximum daily temperature exceeded 20 degrees C, the use of the shelter increased from 10 to 49% of the daylight hours. There was no significant difference between the live-weight gains of animals from the observed group and those of other bulls on an adjacent pasture without shelter. Nevertheless, these observations suggest that a shelter may improve the welfare of grazing cattle. [less ▲]