A Survey on Feedlot Performance of Purebred and Crossbred European Young Bulls and Heifers Managed Under Intensive Conditions in Veneto, Northeast Italy

Abstract

This study, based on a nearly 10-year collection of performance data of young bulls and beef heifers, aimed to benchmark production traits of specialized fattening herds of northern Italy and to compare the performance of stock calves belonging to several European genetic types (GT). Data originated from 2806 batches (a group of stock calves homogeneous for GT, origin, finishing herd, fattening period, and diets), and concerned 188,891 animals of 10 GT herded in 44 farms of the Veneto region. For each batch, average body weight (BW) at arrival and at sale, duration of the fattening period, losses due to injury or death, purchase and sell price were collected, and average daily gain (ADG) and net sale gain (NSG) per head, per day of fattening, and per kg of BW gain were computed. Charolais and Limousine young bulls accounted for nearly 50% and 20%, respectively, of all animals, and over 90% of calves originated from France. Average BW at arrival and at slaughter approximated 370 and 650 kg, respectively, and ADG approached 1.30 kg/d, but variation due to GT was large (P<0.01). Charolais young bulls were the heaviest at slaughter and showed the greatest ADG, whereas Irish crosses produced the highest NSG per head and per day of fattening. Year affected all traits (P<0.01), but his magnitude was limited for BW at purchase or sale and for ADG, and slightly larger for NSG, even if this last trait did not evidence any long period congruent trend.

Sources of variation of the environmental impact of cereal-based intensive beef finishing herds

“…This is the case of the beef fattening system in the north-eastern Italy, which gives a notable contribution to the European beef supply (European Commission 2011). This system integrates the extensive suckler cow-calf farms of the French Massif Central, which provide stock calves, with the intensive beef herds of northern Italy, where imported stock calves are finished using total mixed rations based on maize silage and concentrates (Cozzi 2007;Gallo et al 2014). In a previous research published by our group, aiming to assess the environmental impact of this beef system (Berton et al 2016), we found a notable variation in different impact categories.…”

Environmental impact of a cereal-based intensive beef fattening system according to a partial Life Cycle Assessment approach

“…soybean meal as a co-product of soybean oil production), an economic allocation method was used, since this is the most common method in livestock sector (de Vries and de Boer, 2010). Within these boundaries, the reference unit was the batch, defined as a group of animals homogeneous for genotype, sex, origin, fattening farm and finishing period (Gallo et al, 2014). This approach allowed to take into account the variation of the impact among and within farms.…”

“…The study considered 327 batches (20,598 animals, 63 732 heads of average size) herded in 16 beef fattening farms whose geographical location, ownership type, and herd structure and management were typical of this specialized beef sector (Gallo et al, 2014). The reference year was 2013.…”

“…One of these is the intensive beef fattening sector in North-Eastern Italy, a very specialised farming system which produces nearly 24% of beef bulls reared by fatteners in the European Union (European Commission, 2011). This system traditionally integrates the extensive suckler cow-calf herds, mostly located in France, which provide stock calves, with the intensive fattening herds of the Po valley in northern Italy, where beef calves are raised and finished using total mixed rations based on maize silage and concentrates (Gallo et al, 2014). Despite the economic relevance, the large number of animals produced, and the involvement of different countries in this beef chain, only few studies considered the environmental aspects of this system, focussing on nitrogen pollution at regional level (Xiccato et al, 2005) or providing just some general insights of the global warming potential within the European scenario (Leip et al, 2010).…”

Selection for pure- and crossbred performance in Charolais

“…Charolais purebred animals are mainly born and raised in the mideastern and the western part of France (Bouquet, 2009). Crossbred calves are born in various regions in France and are mainly sold to fattening farms in the northeast region of Italy (Sarzeaud et al, 2007;Gallo et al, 2014). The mideastern and the western part of France have an oceanic climate and the northeast region of Italy has a Mediterranean climate.…”