RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PURCHASE CONDITIONS , ANIMAL PERFORMANCES AND ECONOMY WITH FATTENING CATTLE FROM THE BELGIAN-BLUE BREED

Relationships between production factors, animal performances and econ omy were calculated from data obtained in a survey carried-out over 2 years in a commercial farm with growing fattening bulls from the Belgi an Blue breed-double muscle type. More than 50 % of the 941 bulls came from farmers who supplied between 1 to 10 animals, Three dealers sold more than 75 % of the animals, The differences were small between the 2 years for the animal performances. A correlation was found between purchase price per kg and initial weight (r(2)=0,76), between length o f fattening period and initial weight (r(2)=0,72), between benefit and slaughter weight (r(2)=0,29) and between benefit and slaughter price (r(2)=0,53) on the basis of the prices found until 3 years ago. In suc h conditions the farmer made a profit. When the data were adapted to t he actual economic situation an opposite trend was found. Linear model s were used to estimate the contribution of Several factors to the var iation of the average daily gain, the slaughter price or the killing-o ut percentage.