Beef breed bulls versus selected dual purpose bulls in producing calves for meat production

The mating of small beef type bulls (Angus, Eringer) to reduce difficulties at first calvings is increasingly applied in Switzerland. In contrast to this, calf producers refuse to use large type beef bulls on their cows because of direct and indirect damages due to increased calving problems. It proved to be an attractive alternative to use specially selected dual purpose bulls tested for ease of calving and high growth rate but low dairy performance, so called M-bulls (Meat bulls), out of the regular AI testing programme for Braunvieh and Simmentals.From 1974 to 1976, Charolais, Limousin and Piemontese bulls were included in the AI testing programme and compared with Braunvieh- and Simmental-M-bulls. Data included progeny from 47 bulls, 7936 calvings, 1137 animals with carcass gains, and 130 dissected carcasses. If calving performance and net gains are considered, the M-bulls compete well with the foreign breeds. If, in addition, the amount of meat in the carcass is taken into account, then Charolais and Piemontese crosses are superior. The problem is one of distributing gains and losses among calf producers, feeders and butchers. It needs specially tested bulls with emphasis on ease of calving out of the specialized beef breeds or sire lines to persuade the dairy farmer to cross his cows.