Keeping animals on pasture (dairy cow, mother cow, fattening calf, fattening ox, young cattle) is an example of a labor-extensive, cost-effective, energy-efficient and sustainable low-input system that provides high basic feed qualities and enables good performance with appropriate pasture management. The present project contributes to the establishment of Austrian beef quality programs that are based on low-input systems (pasture, low use of concentrated feed).

In the present project, 20 calves (Fleckvieh x Charolais) with an average live weight of 300 kg are purchased and fattened up to a weight of 550 kg. The calves are divided into two groups; the stable group is fed grass silage and corn silage as a basic feed ration, as well as moderate amounts of concentrated feed. The pasture group receives only pasture throughout the entire growing season. In the fall, the animals in the pasture group are finished fattening in the stable. The calves are weighed weekly. Representative feed samples are taken from all feed (except pasture). The feed and nutrient intake of the stable group is recorded daily for individual animals using Calan Gates. Data on fattening performance, slaughter performance and meat quality are collected under different feeding regimes.

The following questions will be addressed in this project:

• Showing the possibilities and limitations of fattening calves on short grass pasture
  without concentrate supplements
• Estimating the pasture yield potential and the growth potential of the calves
• Demonstrating differences between calf fattening on pasture
  (with final fattening in the stable) and pure stable feeding with silage and moderate amounts of concentrated feed in terms of fattening performance, slaughter performance and meat quality
  (meat and fat color, marbling, tenderness)
• Investigation of the fatty acid content and fatty acid composition of veal meat; Clarification of differences in fatty acid patterns in different grassland feeding systems

Further project: Internal calf fattening in grassland (pasture vs. silage feeding) – fattening, slaughter performance and meat quality

Further information on project management can be found in the database for research and sustainable development (Dafne) -> Link