Mashood, Qasim
- Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Crossbreeding dairy cows with Angus beef sires can enhance the performance and carcass quality of bulls in dairy-based beef production. This study evaluated 72 intact bulls (36 dairy-sired [D], 36 Angus-sired [C]) raised in either a high-intensity (H; 64% concentrate, slaughtered at 15 months) or low-intensity (L; 44% concentrate, slaughtered at 18 months) system. Across systems, C bulls outperformed D bulls in average daily gain (1.48 vs. 1.33 kg), carcass weight (389 vs. 343 kg), dressing percentage, conformation, fatness, and marbling scores (all P < 0.01). The H system improved daily gain and feed conversion but resulted in lower carcass weight and marbling than the L system. Notably, L bulls had superior carcass weight (387 vs. 346 kg) and marbling (2.1 vs. 1.7) (P < 0.01). These results indicate that Angus crossbreeding improves growth and meat quality traits in intact bulls, regardless of production intensity.
Keywords
Crossbreeding; dairy x beef; intact bulls; forage; feed conversion; carcass traits
Published in
Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science
2025
Publisher: TAYLOR AND FRANCIS LTD
SLU Authors
Nadeau, Elisabet
- Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Hessle, Anna
- Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
UKÄ Subject classification
Animal and Dairy Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2025.2576872
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/144592