BULL BEEF the Benefit of Bull Beef Is the Increased Daily Liveweight Gain and Improved Feed Conversion Efficiency Over Steers
BULL BEEF The benefit of bull beef is the increased daily liveweight gain and improved feed conversion efficiency over steers. However bulls can display aggressive behaviour and be dangerous to handlers, so care when handling and feeding is essential. The growth advantages of bull beef can only be gained if the general standard of management is good. Bulls are best suited to indoor systems, e.g. cereal and silage beef.
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT & BEHAVIOUR § Growth rates of at least 1.2 kg/day § Bull calves can reach maturity in can be achieved for later maturing 6-8 months and become restless breeds (Holstein/Friesians) and aggressive § Growth rates of 1.0kg/day can be § There are higher bedding achieved for early maturing types requirements, and potential risk of (Hereford, Angus, Welsh Black) rear leg injury § § Bulls can be taken to around 15% Keep bulls in small groups – heavier weights than steers before maximum of 20 animals per pen feed conversion efficiency drops to (so they can establish a ‘pecking an uneconomical level order’) § Care when re-introducing sick § Feed conversion efficiency can be animals or new ‘strange’ animals 10-12% higher than for steers as the ‘pecking order’ will have been disrupted § KEY POINTS Close proximity to cows or heifers should be avoided as this can The potential dangerous nature of bulls cause restless behaviour must never be under-rated. § § Keep disturbance to a minimum, Bulls are difficult to finish if they do house in a quiet area of the farm not consistently perform at a high and keep children and dogs away level. § § Warning signs indicating the Indoor cereal beef production is an presence of bulls must be ideal system for the production of displayed in prominent positions young bulls and there is a ready § market Housing and handling facilities must be made secure § Outdoor grazing systems can create § difficulties with handling, safety, Grazing areas must be well away fencing etc. with animals over 6-7 from populated areas and should months of age (particularly if dairy be well fenced bred) but it is suitable for spring- § Generally, pure dairy bred breeds born suckler calves are more likely to show signs of § There is no market for poorly aggression and bullying than the shaped under-finished bulls majority of beef crosses HOUSED / INDOOR SYSTEMS GRAZING SYSTEMS Cereal beef Dairy bred cattle § Potential for cereal growers with § With good grassland management the suitable buildings liveweight gain of young grazing bulls of § Cereal beef bulls frequently 5 - 10 months of age can be 10-12% command a financial premium and above steers the system can be a way of adding § During wet spells and on heavy soil, value to home grown cereal grain liveweight gains can suffer and pasture § Profitable where calf prices are damage can occur low, and labour and buildings § A short period of grazing will suit available winter/spring born calves destined for § Feed cereal/protein mix ad lib indoor finishing at 9-10 months § More suitable to late maturing § Aim for liveweight gains of 1.0 -1.2 types (Holstein/Friesians and their kg/day (depending on breed) later maturing crosses) Suckler bred cattle § Feed conversion efficiency and § Bull suckler calves can be fed diets of therefore profitability drops either cereals or high quality silage with dramatically at heavier weights (ie. a cereal/protein supplement 500kg for Friesian/Holsteins and § Spring born calves should be finished 550kg for later maturing crosses) at just over 12 months of age Grass silage § Avoid grazing bulls and heifer calves of § Suited for systems with well more than 6 months of age together as managed grassland and arable indiscriminate breeding can occur farms with grass areas that can be harvested MEAT QUALITY AND MARKETING § Feed from 3 months to slaughter § Bulls produce heavier carcasses (10- at 12-15 months 12%) when slaughtered at the same § Feed high quality (65-70D) grass age as steers, contain more lean, less silage with 2-4kg/day of a fat, and dressing percentage is higher barley/protein mix § The natural leanness of bull beef makes Maize silage it attractive to consumers but it can be § Suitable in maize growing areas slightly less tender than steers. § Maize is high in energy but low in § Flavour and juiciness are unaffected crude protein, minerals and and there is no evidence of taint vitamins, so careful § Research the market before supplementation is required commitment to bull beef production as Fodder beet there is resistance to bull beef in some § High in energy and low in protein sections of the meat trade § Can only be fed October to May § Sell on dead weight basis to reduce § Can usually feed the roots whole affects of stress on meat quality § Routine weighing (every 2-3 weeks as they approach the target finishing weights) is advisable to monitor progress and reduce affects of stress MORE INFORMATION Dennis Chapple (ADAS) 01432 820 444. For a full list of available factsheets contact Deborah Courtney 01970 823 028 or email [email protected] [email protected], www.agriknowledge.co.uk Bull beef producers should read the Health and Safety Executive’s Guidelines on the safe custody and handling of bulls on farms and similar premises and seek advice on the health and safety matters from the Agricultural Inspectorate. The Livestock Knowledge Transfer management team are grateful to ADAS for the information used to develop this fact sheet.