Effect of bull-calf management system on meat productivity

Abstract

Traditional technologies for the production of beef in the conditions of industrial production of livestock products in the middle of the 20th century were schematically transferred from dairy cattle breeding and do not take into account the behavioral characteristics of animals. The traditional approach to the cultivation of young animals involves a stall-and-loose keeping system, mechanized distribution of feed and manure cleaning. Under such conditions the labor costs for the production of 1 kg of beef are within 15-30 man-hours, the total specific weight of feed, electricity, fuel and lubricants, depreciation costs of livestock buildings and technological equipment in the cost structure of this product reaches 50-55%. Beef production remains unprofitable regardless of animal breed – the cost of 1 kg of meat is 1.5-2 times higher than the sales price, which hinders further development of the industry. The paper shows the results of the assessment of meat productivity of bulls of various breeds when raised using traditional and low-cost technologies. Research results are relevant for beef production in steppe regions.