Effects of vitamin A on growth performance and carcass quality in steers

Vitamin A plays a critical role in many essential life processes. In herbivores, it is either derived from plant β-carotene or directly as a dietary supplement. In cattle, vitamin A has the potential to influence various carcass traits that are sought by specific beef markets. A group of 20 Angus steers was removed from pasture and fed a low β-carotene and vitamin A cereal-based ration on a feedlot for 308 days. Ten of the steers were supplemented with vitamin A (retinyl palmitate, 60 IU of vitamin A/100 kg body weight/day) and the other ten received no supplement. The results demonstrated that restriction of vitamin A intake changed intramuscular fat deposition without changing subcutaneous fat depots. Angus steers that had been depleted of vitamin A showed increased intramuscular fat in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) by 35% (P < 0.026) and seam fat area at the quartering site by 33% (P < 0.0273), when compared with cattle supplemented with vitamin A. There were no changes in intramuscular fat in the semitendinosus. Visually assessed marbling scores were also higher (19%; P < 0.094) in the non-supplemented, depleted group. There was no effect of vitamin A depletion on cattle growth and other meat traits (eye muscle area, meat colour, pH, meat cut weight), meat eating attributes (tenderness, cooking loss) or muscle fibre diameter. The only difference (P < 0.0177) among the meat traits was fat colour where depleted animals had whiter fat than the controls. Moreover, the fat from the vitamin A depleted group was softer with a lower melting point. We conclude that the reduced vitamin A consumption, leading to vitamin A depletion, increases intramuscular fat. On the other hand, the vitamin A depletion did not increase subcutaneous fat depth or change other meat quality traits, suggesting that marbling and these other traits are not invariably related.     

关键场与季节放牧及草地畜牧业的可持续发展

基于季节畜牧业和草地农业生态系统的思想,提出了关键场的新概念;基于3S技术的应用和草业发展的需要,提出了关键场载畜量计算的新方法,为草地退化的防治和草地畜牧业的可持续发展,提供一个新的视角和可操作的评价指标;这些新的概念、指标、方法和程序,已经在<中国西部阿勒泰地区草地生产力变化及对策研究>中得到验证;草地畜牧业的核心问题,就是全年放牧的草畜平衡问题,这一点已列入草原法.因此,这些成果,可为新形势下正在起步的我国草原监理事业,提供必要的技术支撑.     

重庆市"十五"肉牛生产的现状与"十一五"发展对策

重庆市肉牛生产在“十五”期间取得很大的发展,尤其是在肉牛的生产科研中取得重庆市肉牛生产在“十五”期间取得很大的发展,尤其是在肉牛的生产科研中取得了较好的成绩。本文阐述了重庆市现有的肉牛资源条件、生产水平、市场因素等现状,指出了重庆市肉牛生产中存在的问题,并对重庆市“十一五”期间肉牛生产搞好资源的综合利用,实现可持续发展的对策进行了探讨。     

Genetic parameters and relationships of heifer pregnancy and age at first calving with weight gain, yearling and mature weight in Nelore cattle

The objectives of the current study were to investigate the additive genetic associations between heifer pregnancy at 16 months of age (HP16) and age at first calving (AFC) with weight gain from birth to weaning (WG), yearling weight (YW) and mature weight (MW), in order to verify the possibility of using the traits measured directly in females as selection criteria for the genetic improvement of sexual precocity in Nelore cattle. (Co)variance components were estimated by Bayesian inference using a linear animal model for AFC, WG, YW and MW and a nonlinear (threshold) animal model for HP16. The posterior means of direct heritability estimates were: 0.45 ± 0.02; 0.10 ± 0.01; 0.23 ± 0.02; 0.36 ± 0.01 and 0.39 ± 0.04, for HP16, AFC, WG, YW and MW, respectively. Maternal heritability estimate for WG was 0.07 ± 0.01. Genetic correlations estimated between HP16 and WG, YW and MW were 0.19 ± 0.04; 0.25 ± 0.06 and 0.14 ± 0.05, respectively. The genetic correlations of AFC with WG, YW and MW were low to moderate and negative, with values of − 0.18 ± 0.06; − 0.22 ± 0.05 and − 0.12 ± 0.05, respectively. The high heritability estimated for HP16 suggests that this trait seem to be a better selection criterion for females sexual precocity than AFC. Long-term selection for animals that are heavier at young ages tends to improve the heifers sexual precocity evaluated by HP16 or AFC. Predicted breeding values for HP16 can be used to select bulls and it can lead to an improvement in sexual precocity. The inclusion of HP16 in a selection index will result in small or no response for females mature weight.     

正确认识当前肉牛、肉羊生产发展形势--针对辽宁地区情况调查报告

为摸清辽宁省牛羊肉价格不断上涨的原因,客观评价全省牛羊生产及消费情况,找出制约辽宁省牛羊生产发展的主要难点,国家统计局辽宁调查总队在4个市和10个县对部分肉牛、肉羊养殖户开展了牛羊生产专题抽样调查,并对直接调查所取得的数据进行认真的分析研究,为今后加快辽宁牛羊产业发展提供客观的参考依据。     

宕昌县滩子牧场草地类型及生产力分析

于2008年7月,对甘肃省宕昌县滩子牧场草地生产力进行调查,利用GIS技术绘制草地类型图,并对其家畜承载力进行评价.经调查,滩子牧场总面积2 449 hm2.草地类型属山地草甸类,可划分为3个草地组8种草地型.其中,杂类草组包括防风(Saposhnilovia divaricata)+草玉梅(Anemone rivil...     

玛多县高山嵩草草地天然牧草营养评定与载畜量研究

研究选用3头安装永久性瘤胃瘘管的5岁大通牦牛为瘤胃液供体动物,采用体外产气法和概略养分分析法,评定三江源区玛多县高山嵩草草地型天然牧草营养价值,并计算该草地类型草地载畜量,为本地区确定适宜载畜量提供参考.研究结果表明:(1)常规营养成分中粗蛋白(CP)、粗脂肪(EE)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)、水分、粗灰分(Ash)、钙(Ca)、磷(P)的含量分别为9.45±0.18%、3.13±0.11%、28.19±0.31%、7.07±0.08%、4.82±0.05%、0.21±0.03%、0.21±0.01%;(2)体外评定:120h产气量为75.97±1.34 ml,牧草降解率(DMD)为75.59±4.17 %,24h估测消化能(DM)、代谢能(ME)、有机物质消化率(OMD)分别为11.18±0.30MJ/kg、10.28±0.27MJ、64.70±0.77%;(3)草地数量载畜量约为78万个羊单位;营养载畜量DCP和ME载畜量分别为147万个羊单位、110万个羊单位;(4)最适载畜量为78万个羊单位,即2.27个羊单位/hm2.     

Inclusion of barley fibre and barley protein in a total mixed ration for growing dairy bulls

Abstract

A 2×2 factorial design with 32 dairy bulls was used to study the effects of partial replacement of a starchy concentrate with a fibrous concentrate and replacement of rapeseed meal with barley protein as protein supplement on performance of bulls with ad libitum access to a total mixed ration feeding. The two energy supplements were flattened barley (B) and a mixture (1:1 on dry matter (DM) basis) of flattened barley and barley fibre (BF). These were fed with either rapeseed meal or barley protein so that the crude protein content of rations was 162 g kg^?1 DM. Replacing half of the barley grain with barley fibre increased (P<0.01) the average DM intake (9.3 kg d^?1 versus 9.9 kg d^?1), but had no effect on the average live weight gain (1.27 kg d^?1). There seemed to be only a minor difference between rapeseed meal and barley protein as protein supplements on animal performance.     

Fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat from Nellore steers fed dry or high moisture corn and calcium salts of fatty acids

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the fatty acid composition of the Longissimus muscle from carcasses of Nellore steers fed diets with calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA) and high moisture corn. Forty eight steers were fed during 70 days four diets containing dry corn (DC), high moisture corn (HM), dry corn plus CSFA (DC-CSFA) or high moisture corn plus CSFA (HM-CSFA). Fatty acid composition of the Longissimus muscle was determined by gas chromatography. Corn type had no effect on the ether extract percentage and in the content of the majority of the fatty acids, although steers fed HMC showed higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated/saturated ratio. Feeding CSFA increased ether extract percentage but had no effect on total of saturated, unsaturated and saturated: unsaturated ratio. Both high moisture corn and calcium salts of fatty acids increased CLA (cis9, trans11) and total CLA concentrations in intramuscular fat.     

三江源区不同季节放牧草场天然牧草营养价值评定及载畜量研究

为探究三江源区不同季节放牧草场天然牧草营养供给潜力和载畜量,选用3头安装永久性瘤胃瘘管的成年大通牦牛为瘤胃液供体动物,采用概略养分分析法和体外产气法,结合产草量对放牧草场牧草进行综合评定并确定其载畜量。结果表明,1)夏、秋及冬春放牧草场的可食风干草的最高产量分别为(123.83±17.88),(256.88±29.90)和(246.83±66.73) g/m²。2)夏、秋及冬春草场天然牧草的最高粗蛋白(CP)含量分别为(12.69±0.13)%,(10.54±1.22)%和(8.65±0.64)%,其含量随牧草生长而逐渐降低;夏、秋及冬春草场天然牧草EE的最高含量分别为(2.95±0.10)%,(4.38±0.17)%及(3.74±0.70)%;NDS含量的变化趋势与CP一致,而NDF和ADF含量的变化与CP相反,随牧草生长含量不断增加。3)体外发酵pH和氨氮浓度均在正常范围内;夏季草场牧草的48 h产气量、24 h产气估测消化能(DM)、代谢能(ME)和有机物质降解率(OMD)的最大值分别为(57.50±4.27) mL、(9.32±0.59) MJ/kg、(7.98±0.62) MJ/kg和(57.93±3.23)%;秋季草场牧草分别为(54.67±5.35) mL、(8.83±0.64) MJ/kg、(7.47±0.68) MJ/kg及(55.26±3.52)%;冬春草场牧草分别为(58.83±4.51) mL、(9.56±0.60) MJ/kg、(8.24±0.63) MJ/kg及(52.69±5.14)%。4)无补饲条件下,夏、秋及冬春天然放牧草场载畜量分别按数量载畜量、数量载畜量和DCP载畜量核算放牧科学,其最适载畜量分别为7.05,19.51和2.47 SU/hm²;有良好补饲情况下,夏、秋及冬春天然放牧草场载畜量按DCP载畜量、ME载畜量和ME载畜量核算放牧科学,其最适载畜量分别为14.85,29.00和5.03 SU/hm²。因此,三江源区牧草产量和品质季节性差异大,能-氮不平衡,通过补饲可以使夏、秋及冬春放牧草场的载畜量分别提高1.1,0.5和1.0倍左右,有利于促进当地畜牧业发展和生态保护。     

Comparison of supplementary concentrate levels with grass silage, separate or total mixed ration feeding, and duration of finishing in beef steers

Winter finishing of beef cattle is expensive so feed costs per kg carcass gain must be minimised. The objectives of this study with finishing beef steers were (1) to determine the production responses to varying levels of supplementary concentrates with grass silage, (2) to compare the effects of feeding silage and concentrates separately or as a total mixed ration (TMR), and (3) to compare short (S) and long (L) finishing periods. A total of 117 finishing steers were blocked on weight and assigned to 13 groups of 9 animals each comprising a pre-experimental slaughter group and 12 finishing groups arranged in a 6 (feeding treatments) × 2 (durations of finishing) factorial experiment. The 6 feeding treatments were: (1) silage only offered ad libitum (SO), (2) SO plus a low level of concentrates offered separately (LS), (3) SO plus a low level of concentrates offered as a TMR (LM), (4) SO plus a high level of concentrates offered separately (HS), (5) SO plus a high level of concentrates offered as a TMR (HM), and (6) concentrates ad libitum plus restricted silage (AL). Target low and high concentrate levels were proportionately 0.375 and 0.750 of daily dry matter (DM) intake, respectively. S and L finishing periods were 105 and 175 days, respectively. Silage DM intake decreased (P < 0.001) and total DM intake increased (P < 0.001) with increasing concentrate level. Maximum DM intake occurred at the high concentrate level but maximum net energy intake occurred on ad libitum concentrates. Live weight gains for SO, LS, LM, HS, HM and AL were 212, 900, 929, 1111, 1089 and 1207 (S.E. 46.2) g/day, respectively. Corresponding carcass weight gains were 119, 506, 540, 662, 633 and 746 (S.E. 25.4) g/day. Kill-out proportion, carcass conformation score and all measures of fatness increased significantly with increasing concentrate level. Feeding a TMR increased silage intake at the low concentrate level but otherwise had no effect on overall animal performance or carcass traits. Extending the finishing period reduced (P < 0.001) daily live weight gain, but the associated reduction in carcass weight gain was not statistically significant. It is concluded that the response to supplementary concentrates decreased with increasing level, there was no animal production advantage to a TMR over separate feeding of the dietary constituents, and extending the duration of the finishing period reduced mean daily live weight gain and increased fatness.     

山东省牛主要污染物产生量估算及环境效应研究

[目的]估算了山东省牛粪便的总量及其养分的负荷量和占当年排泄污染物的比例。[方法]根据2010年山东省和各地市牛存栏的行业和统计局两套数据和2012年行业数据,通过计算参数和估算的方法算出了牛粪产生总量。[结果]全省牛粪总共约在7000~9700万 t 之间,占当年所有畜禽粪便产生量的34.07%~37.37%之间,即三分之一以上。德州、济南两市单是牛粪便的土地承载量分别达到了29.7 t/hm2和27.4 t/hm2,接近了欧洲标准30 t/hm2的限量值。[结论]应该引起我们对全省牛业发展方式和发展战略的高度重视。     

Effects of supplementary concentrate level in winter, and subsequent finishing on pasture or indoors, on performance and carcass traits of Holstein–Friesian, Aberdeen Angus × Holstein–Friesian and Belgian Blue × Holstein–Friesian steers

Pure bred Holstein–Friesian (FR) and beef breed × FR male calves are used for beef production in Ireland. Beef breeds used for crossbreeding on FR cows include Aberdeen Angus (AA) and Belgian Blue (BB) which represent extremes in terms of maturity. The objective of this study was to compare spring-born steers of FR, AA and BB breed types, offered two feeding levels in their second winter, and subsequently finished on pasture or on a high concentrate diet indoors. Seventy-two steers (24 per breed type) were managed together to the end of their second grazing season. They were then blocked on weight within breed type and assigned to a 3 (FR, AA and BB breed types) × 2 (winter feeding levels) × 2 (finishing systems) factorial experiment. The two winter feeding levels were grass silage ad libitum plus mean daily concentrate levels of 0.91 (L) or 4.0 (H) kg dry matter for 113 days. The two finishing systems were pasture or concentrates ad libitum for a mean period of 94 days. Mean slaughter and carcass weights for FR, AA and BB were 634, 644 and 642 (s.e. 8.1), and 313, 326 and 340 (s.e. 4.7) kg, respectively. Other than bone proportion which was lower for AA, there were few differences in ribs joint composition or in m. longissimus chemical composition between FR and AA. BB had less fat and more muscle in the ribs joint, and more moisture and protein, and less lipid in m. longissimus than both FR and AA. Compared with L, the H winter feeding level increased slaughter weight and carcass weight by 24 and 15 kg, respectively. Indoor finished animals were 63 kg live weight and 39 kg carcass weight heavier than those finished at pasture. They also had more fat and less muscle and bone in the ribs joint and more lipid and less moisture in m. longissimus. It is concluded that except for BB finished at pasture all carcasses were commercially acceptable. Despite the excellent finishing performance on concentrates, this system is not profitable at current concentrate and beef prices.     

宁夏肉牛产业链现状、问题及建议

肉牛产业是我国农业的重要组成部分，也是宁夏回族自治区确定的“六特”产业之一。肉牛产业的发展对宁夏的经济发展起着至关重要的作用。本文从产业链角度出发，综合分析了遗传繁育、疾病防控、饲料营养、养殖育肥、生产加工、销售等肉牛产业发展相关现状和问题，并提出了产业发展建议，为宁夏肉牛产业高质量协调发展提供参考。     

草地生态系统载畜量与合理放牧率研究方法进展

草地载畜量和合理放牧率历来是草地生态系统的研究热点.然而,多年来的研究成果却未能有效解决实现草地可持续发展的管理和技术问题,由此可见,现有的载畜量和放牧率研究体系尚存在一定的缺陷.近年来围绕草地载畜量和合理放牧率的准确评定,各国学者进行了大量研究,涌现出许多新的理论和方法.越来越多的研究开始关注经济因素在放牧草地生态系统中的作用,并将载畜量划分为生态和经济载畜量两类,而且对合理放牧率也有了更进一步的认识.通过对现有载畜量和放牧率研究方法的总结,指出了其中可能存在的缺陷,认为草地载畜量不应仅以生态载畜量为标准,而在确定放牧率时应将农户行为和宏观经济背景纳入考虑范围;在放牧草地生态系统研究中应与生态经济学的理论方法相结合;将大面积草地化整为零,以放牧小区为单位有利于提高载畜量和放牧率评估的精确性.     

三河镇富陵肉牛出户入园模式运行现状及存在问题探讨

三河镇富陵村是典型的移民搬迁村,肉牛养殖又是该村畜牧产业的主要形式。2020年,随着肉牛养殖园区的建成,实现了肉牛出户入园的目标。原来一家一户饲养,房前屋后建牛舍、堆粪到处堆放的状况不复存在。村容村貌,尤其是卫生状况得到较大改善;肉牛标准化养殖得到充分体现,TMR饲喂、按时防疫、疾病及时治疗等有保障。本文对现阶段富陵肉牛出户入园经营模式、农村移民安置区肉牛出户入园养殖经验进行了归纳;对这种经营模式的经济效益、社会效益、生态效益进行了分析;并对这种模式在实际运行中存在的问题进行了汇总,并提出了相应的解决办法,以期提高该村肉牛养殖水平,增加村民受益。     

Effect of regular walking exercise on glucose tolerance and insulin response to i.v. glucose infusion in growing beef steers

The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the effect of regular walking exercise on glucose tolerance and insulin response to i.v. glucose infusion in growing beef steers. Four crossbred beef steers walked on a treadmill during a 6 week exercise period (1.2 km/h, 1 h/day and 5 days/week). The changes in plasma glucose and insulin levels following glucose infusion were analyzed immediately prior to (bodyweight: 260.4 ± 24.2 kg) and after (295.7 ± 30.1 kg) the exercise period. The basal levels of plasma glucose (86.4 vs. 82.0 mg/dL, P = 0.040) and insulin (24.5 vs. 14.3 μU/mL, P = 0.016) were significantly lower after the exercise period. Further, the increase in the levels of plasma glucose (420.4 vs. 280.8 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and insulin (94.5 vs. 73.1 μU/mL, P = 0.028) following the glucose infusion decreased after the exercise period. The area under the curve of plasma glucose (108.8 vs. 62.9 mg/dL per min, P < 0.001) and insulin (53.6 vs. 29.7 μU/mL per min, P = 0.018) indicated more rapid clearance of exogenous glucose and less insulin secretion for glucose clearance after the exercise period. These results suggest that regular exercise improves glucose tolerance, with lower insulin response to glucose infusion in growing steers, as observed in rodents and humans.     

A comparison of Friesian, Aberdeen Angus × Friesian and Belgian Blue × Friesian steers finished at pasture or indoors

Cross-breeding of dairy cows with beef bulls is common in Ireland with the Aberdeen Angus and Belgian Blue beef breeds both widely used. These breeds differ in maturity and consequently in their suitability for production systems differing in intensity and slaughter age. The objective of this study was to compare spring-born Holstein–Friesian (FR), Aberdeen Angus × Holstein–Friesian (AA) and Belgian Blue  × Holstein–Friesian (BB) steers slaughtered off pasture at the end of their second grazing season or slaughtered at the end of the second winter following indoor finishing. Fifty-four (18 per breed type) steers were managed together to 16 months of age. They were then blocked on weight within breed type and assigned to a 3 (breed types) × 2 (finishing strategies) factorial experiment. The two finishing strategies were (i) concentrate supplementation (mean 3.65 kg/day) at pasture for 105 days to slaughter, and (ii) pasture only for 105 days followed by indoor finishing on grass silage plus concentrates for 141 days to slaughter. Mean slaughter and carcass weights per day of age for FR, AA and BB were 852, 802 and 834 (S.E. 13.1) g, and 427, 412 and 452 (S.E. 7.3) g, respectively. Corresponding kill-out proportions, carcass conformation and carcass fat classes were 501, 514 and 542 (S.E. 2.4) g/kg, 1.90, 2.15 and 2.89 (S.E. 0.073), and 3.09, 3.27 and 2.59 (S.E. 0.122), respectively. The response to concentrates at pasture was 101 g live weight and 83 g carcass weight per kg dry matter. It is concluded that there were few differences between FR and AA in carcass growth and composition but BB had heavier carcasses of better conformation with higher proportions of lean meat and high-value lean joints than both FR and AA. Acceptable live weight and carcass weight gains were obtained on pasture plus concentrates but BB and FR carcasses were not acceptably finished off pasture. Both FR and AA produced acceptable carcasses following indoor finishing and BB carcasses, while below the target fat class, were acceptably finished based on internal fat and dissected carcass fat proportions.     

The effect of concentrate level and concentrate composition on the performance of growing dairy heifers reared and finished for beef production

Abstract

The objectives of the study with growing dairy heifers were to determine the effects on animal performance of (1) concentrate level and (2) the concentrate composition in the grass silage-based diet. Animals (30 heifers) were randomly assigned to three feeding treatments: (1) low level (1.75 kg dry matter (DM)/d) of rolled barley (LB); (2) low level (1.75 kg DM/d) of commercial pelleted concentrate (LC); and (3) medium level (3.5 kg DM/d) of commercial pelleted concentrate (MC). All animals were also offered grass silage and hay. The commercial concentrate contained more crude protein than barley grain (135 g/kg DM vs. 205 g/kg DM). The data were analysed using analysis of variance and differences between the treatments were tested by orthogonal contrasts: LC vs. MC and LB vs. LC. The growth of the heifers increased and carcass conformation improved with increasing concentrate level. Commercial concentrate did not improve animal performance compared with barley grain.