Grazing livestock (dairy cows, beef cows, fattening heifers, beef steers, young cattle) is an example of a labor-intensive, cost-effective, energy-efficient, and sustainable low-input system that provides high-quality forage and, with appropriate pasture management, enables good performance. This project contributes to the establishment of Austrian beef quality programs based on low-input systems (grazing, low concentrate feed use).
In this project, 20 heifers (Simmental x Charolais) with an average live weight of 300 kg are purchased and fattened to a weight of 550 kg. The heifers are divided into two groups: the barn-raised group receives grass and corn silage as their basic feed ration, along with moderate amounts of concentrate. The pasture-raised group receives only pasture throughout the entire growing season. In autumn, the animals in the pasture-raised group are finished fattening in the barn. The heifers are weighed weekly. Representative feed samples are taken from all feedstuffs (except pasture). The feed and nutrient intake of the barn-raised group is recorded daily, individually for each animal, using Calan gates. Data on fattening performance, carcass yield, and meat quality are collected under different feeding regimes.
The following questions will be addressed in this project:
- Demonstrating the possibilities and limitations of
fattening heifers on short-grass pasture without supplemental concentrated feed. - Assessing the pasture yield potential and the growth potential of the heifers
- Demonstrating differences between heifer fattening on pasture
(with final fattening in the barn) and pure barn feeding with silage and moderate amounts of concentrate feed with regard to fattening performance, slaughter performance and meat quality
(meat and fat color, marbling, tenderness) - Investigation of the fatty acid content and fatty acid composition of heifer meat; clarification of differences in the fatty acid profile in different grassland feeding systems.
Further project: Heifer fattening in grassland (pasture vs. silage feeding) – fattening, slaughter performance and meat quality
