Comparison of Canadian Holstein × British Friesian and British Friesian steers for beef production. 1. On-farm performance

Abstract

A comparison was undertaken of 92 Canadian Holstein × British Friesian (HF) and 93 British Friesian (F), autumn born, male calves on three typical United Kingdom production systems. These were: intensive barley beef system (BB); a grass/cereal 18-month system (18m); and 24-month forage system (24m). Calves were brought in from a variety of farms. HF calves were heavier on arrival (43·1 v. 40.7 kg ***). The calves were the progeny of 27 Canadian Holstein and 43 British Friesian sires, and all out of British Friesian dams. They were castrated and reared conventionally to 100 kg before being allocated to treatment. Slaughter was undertaken when subjective handling suggested that the carcass would classify as fat-class 2 on the Meat and Livestock Commission classification scheme (equivalent to European Economic Community fat-class 3), provided that a minimum live weight (BB, 380 kg; 18m/24m, 420 kg) was achieved. There were no differences between breeds in daily live-weight gain on any system. Other results, HF first, follow. At slaughter, HF were both older (BB, 362 v. 342 days **; 18m, 591 v. 558 days ***; 24m, 716 v. 673 days ***) and heavier (BB, 413 v. 395 kg ***; 18m, 486 v. 469 kg NS; 24m, 531 v. 496 kg ***). Efficiency of food conversion, measured on the BB system only, was not significantly different (5·83 v. 5·84).

Evaluation of estimated genetic merit for carcass weight in beef cattle: Live weights, feed intake, body measurements, skeletal and muscular scores, and carcass characteristics

“…The 25 kg difference between AA and BB at the end of the first winter is about what would be expected at that stage given the difference in sire EPD CWT . Numerous studies conducted over the past 20 years in Ireland (Keane and More O'Ferrall, 1988;McGee et al, 2005), Great Britain (Cook and Newton, 1979;Rowlinson et al, 1984) and continental Europe (Oldenbroek, 1980(Oldenbroek, , 1982Reklewski et al, 1985) have compared Friesian and Holstein cattle for beef production traits. All these studies, in agreement with the present findings, noted that overall growth rates were similar for Friesians and Holsteins.…”

A comparison of Canadian Holstein × British Friesian and British Friesian steers for beef production. 2. Carcass characteristics

“…The general management of the steers and the slaughter criteria were described in the companion paper (Rowlinson et al, 1984). The numbers of steers of each breed and system were exactly those given in the companion paper, since all contributing to the on-farm performance provided a carcass.…”

Evaluation of estimated genetic merit for carcass weight in beef cattle: Blood metabolites, carcass measurements, carcass composition and selected non-carcass components

“…There have been many comparisons of Holstein and Friesian dairy strains (Cook and Newton, 1979;Tas and Scott, 1982;Rowlinson et al, 1984;Keane and More O'Ferrall, 1988;Southgate et al, 1988;McGee et al, 2005) but with the exception of the latter study, all date from more than 20 years ago when the animals used (particularly Holstein) were probably of lower genetic merit for dairy traits than those currently available. Despite Holstein having, on average, a slightly superior beef merit index to Friesian (ICBF, 2007), there is an inference that Friesians are more valuable for beef production because of their superior carcass conformation (McGee et al, 2005) and feed efficiency (Keane and More O'Ferrall, 1988).…”