Phase-feeding to optimize performance and quality of Belgian Blue double-muscled bulls

Fiems²,

Paepe³

et al. 2001

Anim. Res.

-Compositional data of 17 Belgian Blue double-muscled bulls with empty body weight between 276 and 669 kg were analysed. Body composition only changed slowly and linearly within the investigated live weight range. Water, protein, fat and ash in the empty body varied between 65.8 and 72.0%, 18.9 and 21.2%, 3.5 and 9.7% and 3.0 and 4.% respectively. The chemical fat content in the empty body was remarkably low. The percentage of accreted energy as protein always remained higher than 50% of the total accreted energy, which is much higher than generally reported in literature. Caloric values for protein and fat were: 22.91 (± 0.90) MJ . kg -1 and 38.74 (± 1.53) MJ . kg -1 respectively. Carcass protein contained on average (in %) 8.8 Asp, 15.6 Glu, 5.3 Pro, 7.7 Gly, 6.6 Ala, 7.5 Leu, 7.4 Lys and 6.5 Arg, while the protein in the non-carcass parts contained (in %) 8.0 Asp, 12.7 Glu, 8.8 Pro, 15.1 Gly, 8.0 Ala, 6.6 Leu, 5.6 Lys and 7.2 Arg. The protein composition proved to be rather constant for the considered live weight range.

Section: Body Compositional Datasupporting

confidence: 91%

“…The total experimental period was divided in three phases (ca. 360-460 kg, 460-570 kg, 570-680 kg) to investigate the effect of phase-feeding on animal performance [6]. The animals were divided over four treatments (group 1, 2, 3 and 4), with different energy and protein combinations [6], but all diets were fed ad libitum.…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compositional data on Belgian Blue double-muscled bulls$^{1, 2}$

Fiems²,

Paepe³

et al. 2001

Anim. Res.

“…The total experimental period was divided in three phases (ca. 360-460 kg, 460-570 kg, 570-680 kg) to investigate the effect of phase-feeding on animal performance [3]. The animals were divided over four feeding regimens (group 1, 2, 3 and 4), differing in energy and protein content [3].…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Group 4 (n = 12) received rations with increasing energy levels and decreasing protein levels. More details about the diets are given by De Campeneere et al [3].…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of urinary creatinine excretion to estimate in vivo body composition of Belgian Blue double-muscled bulls

Fiems²,

Vanacker³

et al. 2000

Ann. Zootech.

-Urinary creatinine excretion (UCE) and chemical body composition of 18 Belgian Blue double-muscled bulls were determined. Partly due to the large fasted live weight (fLW) range (308-710 kg), kg water and protein in the empty body were quite accurately predicted (adjR 2 = 0.94 and 0.97) by UCE. The precision of the prediction of kg empty body fat was less good (adjR 2 = 0.77). However, the empty body composition of the bulls varied only slightly and linearly with increasing live weight so that the fLW was the best parameter to estimate empty body water and protein with an adjR 2 value of 0.99 for both. The empty body fat was estimated from fLW with an adjR 2 = 0.75. The equations predicting relative body composition from UCE had much smaller adjR 2 values, varying from 0.53 for % empty body water to 0.30 for % empty body protein. However, the coefficients of variation were much smaller. The prediction of the relative composition based on UCE was always somewhat better than based on fLW, but the improvement was not enough to justify the work involved in determining UCE. Conclusively, due to the small compositional changes, UCE did not significantly improve the estimation of the body composition from fLW. From the comparison of the results with other studies, it can be concluded that the double-muscled bulls have an extremely high urinary creatinine concentration, which cannot entirely be explained by their increased protein content.

“…Due to the intensive beef production systems in Belgium and the high energetic demands of the Belgian Blue (BB) doublemuscled (dm) bulls [8,9], the amount of roughage in fattening diets is often rather limited and consequently large amounts of readily fermentable carbohydrates are provided. This may result in subclinical or clinical acidosis, which is often associated with rumenitis [17,20] resulting in reduced performance [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Minimal dietary physical structure level for Belgian Blue double-muscled finishing bulls

Fiems²,

Bosschere

et al. 2002

Anim. Res.

-The minimal amount of dietary physical structure for Belgian Blue double-muscled fattening bulls was investigated with four feeding regimens. The trial involved 52 bulls weighing 330 kg at the start and 680 kg at slaughter. All diets were fed ad libitum and consisted of concentrates and maize silage in different ratios. The structural value (SV), currently in use in Belgium as an index of dietary physical structure for dairy cattle, of the diets amounted to 0.79, 0.62 and 0.45 units per kg DM for the HSV (high), MSV (moderate) and LSV (low) group, respectively. The fourth group (LSVs) received the same diet as the LSV group, but additional straw was provided ad libitum, to evaluate whether bulls were capable of compensating for a possible lack of physical structure by eating straw. From the start until 600 kg no differences in growth rate were found. From 600 kg until slaughter (680 kg), the LSV group had the highest growth rate (1.35 vs. 1.14 kg·d -1 ). That same group also had the highest DM-and NEF-intake during the first 84 days of the trial. Although not significantly different, the MSV group had the highest amount of lean meat in the carcass (776 g·kg -1 ) and the lowest amount of fat (100 g·kg -1 ). The level of physical structure did not affect meat quality. Overall, no external signs of subclinical or clinical acidosis were observed. The length of the rumen papillae was not affected by the diets. Histological examination of the ruminal epithelium revealed that MSV and LSV exhibited the severest morphological changes. However, it is unclear whether the welfare of these animals was endangered by a shortage of physical structure. Based on the zootechnical performances, no adverse effects were found when feeding a diet with an SV of 0.45·kg -1 DM. Le quatrième groupe LSVs a reçu le même régime que le groupe LSV, mais complémenté avec de la paille fournie ad libitum, afin d'évaluer si les taurillons sont capables de compenser, en mangeant la paille, la perte de fibrosité de la ration. Du début jusqu'à 600 kg, la vitesse de croissance n'a pas été significativement différente. De 600 kg jusqu'à l'abattage (680 kg) le groupe LSV a eu la vitesse de croissance la plus élevée (1, 35 vs. 1,14 kg·j -1 ). Pour ce même groupe, les quantités de matière sèche et d'énergie nette ingérées ont été les plus élevées pendant les 84 premiers jours de l'essai. Bien que non significativement différent, le groupe MSV a eu la proportion la plus élevée de viande maigre dans la carcasse (776 g·kg -1 ) et la proportion de gras la plus faible (100 g·kg -1 ). La fibrosité des rations n'a pas affecté la qualité de la viande. De façon générale, aucun signe extérieur d'acidose subclinique ou clinique n'a été observé. La longueur des papilles ruminales n'a pas été affectée par le type de rations. L'examen histologique de l'épithélium du rumen a montré que les changements morphologiques ont été les plus sévères pour les groupes MSV et LSV. Cependant, il n'est pas démontré que le bien-être de ces animaux soit altéré par le manque d...