A Survey on Feedlot Performance of Purebred and Crossbred European Young Bulls and Heifers Managed Under Intensive Conditions in Veneto, Northeast Italy

Abstract

This study, based on a nearly 10-year collection of performance data of young bulls and beef heifers, aimed to benchmark production traits of specialized fattening herds of northern Italy and to compare the performance of stock calves belonging to several European genetic types (GT). Data originated from 2806 batches (a group of stock calves homogeneous for GT, origin, finishing herd, fattening period, and diets), and concerned 188,891 animals of 10 GT herded in 44 farms of the Veneto region. For each batch, average body weight (BW) at arrival and at sale, duration of the fattening period, losses due to injury or death, purchase and sell price were collected, and average daily gain (ADG) and net sale gain (NSG) per head, per day of fattening, and per kg of BW gain were computed. Charolais and Limousine young bulls accounted for nearly 50% and 20%, respectively, of all animals, and over 90% of calves originated from France. Average BW at arrival and at slaughter approximated 370 and 650 kg, respectively, and ADG approached 1.30 kg/d, but variation due to GT was large (P<0.01). Charolais young bulls were the heaviest at slaughter and showed the greatest ADG, whereas Irish crosses produced the highest NSG per head and per day of fattening. Year affected all traits (P<0.01), but his magnitude was limited for BW at purchase or sale and for ADG, and slightly larger for NSG, even if this last trait did not evidence any long period congruent trend.