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Suckler cow farming with the production of young cattle is an important branch of production in Austrian agriculture. Young beef is marketed very successfully through branded meat programs and also through direct marketing. The Angus breed, which is often used in suckler cow farming in Switzerland, could also be interesting for Austrian suckler cow farms. Angus is considered a medium-sized, early-maturing, fertile meat breed that is said to have sufficient meatiness and fat coverage and very good meat quality (marbling, tenderness, juiciness) even when fed extensively.
CONCLUSION : With Angus, good carcass qualities and excellent internal meat quality can be achieved in young cattle production and suckler cow farming, even without concentrated feed. So if increased emphasis is placed on well-marbled meat and internal meat quality characteristics, the Angus breed makes sense. In addition to the excellent product quality, young beef of all breeds/crosses can ultimately clearly score points with the process quality, i.e. the way in which it is produced. These include arguments such as calves staying with their mothers, refining grassland into high-quality meat/protein, preserving our cultural landscape, and beef production with a low carbon footprint.