At the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein agricultural research institute, a large-scale fattening trial is being conducted with a total of 40 steers – divided into two cycles of 20 animals each. The calves come from the Ossiacher Tauern farm of the Carinthian Chamber of Agriculture and are castrated either early (up to 6 weeks) or late (from 6 months onwards). This allows, for the first time under Austrian conditions, the effects of the timing of castration on fattening performance, carcass size, and meat quality to be examined.
In addition to the timing of castration breed and feeding intensity are also key considerations. Purebred Simmental beef steers are compared with crossbred animals (Simmental beef x Charolais). Two rations are fed:
- Extensive feeding with hay, grass silage and concentrated feed only during the finishing phase
- Medium-intensive ration with grass silage, hay, corn silage and continuous use of concentrates
Slaughter takes place at a live weight of 695 kg. Comprehensive parameters of fattening performance (feed and nutrient intake, weight gain, etc.), carcass yield, and internal meat quality (marbling, tenderness, composition) are analyzed. An efficiency analysis – for example, regarding food conversion efficiency – is also incorporated into the project.
External partners play an important role: The Carinthian Chamber of Agriculture (Dr. Johann Burgstaller) is investigating the stress and pain reactions of early and late castrated calves as part of a separate project component.
Note : Due to the bluetongue problem in Carinthia and the biosecurity concept of the HBLFA , the first fattening cycle in 2025/2026 unfortunately cannot be carried out.
