Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the biological and economic efficiency of growing-finishing young dairy bulls slaughtered at different live weights under current consumer´s requirements and market conditions. Experiment was conducted with bull calves of Black and White breed with high level (>85%) Holstein blood (n=60). All animals were indoor housed and fed on diets consisting of forage (55 percent on dry matter basis) and concentrate (45 percent) with flat daily live weight gains 900-1000g. The overall findings for the dairy calf to beef system can be summarized as follows. Under current conditions optimum slaughter weights of young bulls are 500-550 kg at the ages of 17-18 months. Biological efficiency as measured by carcass weight production per animal, carcass and meat qualities, increased with increasing of slaughter weights from 400 to 550kg. The same pattern has occurred for net return, but profitability was unchanged. Production systems with light slaughter live weights require more number of cattle by 14-41 percent to produce the same carcass weights. On the other hand feed conversion of the bulls slaughtered at light live weights was higher. Meat potential of Black and white breed with high proportion of Holstein blood is good enough to produce quality lean carcasses.

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