A predictive model for beef cattle growth and carcass composition

Citation
Dj. Kilpatrick et Rwj. Steen, A predictive model for beef cattle growth and carcass composition, AGR SYST, 61(2), 1999, pp. 95-107
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Agriculture/Agronomy
Journal title
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
ISSN journal
0308521X → ACNP
Volume
61
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
95 - 107
Database
ISI
SICI code
0308-521X(199908)61:2<95:APMFBC>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
Due to public concerns over food quality and animal welfare, beef producers are under increasing pressure to produce a high-quality product while stil l maintaining economic efficiency. Hence the need for a model for the accur ate prediction of growth and carcass composition of beef cattle that is fle xible enough to deal with the wide range of breeds of cattle and feeding re gimes, either silage only or supplemented with concentrates, encountered on UK farms. This paper describes a model that has been developed based on a substantial database of experimental observations from a series of trials c arried out by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. If animal and feed costs are provided, the model can provide information on the most economic level of concentrate feeding to achieve the animal growth and qua lity of carcass composition required. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.