Behavior, performance and carcass yield of steers with different comfort conditioning during the fattening period

Autores/as

  • María Eugenia Munilla Departamento de Rumiantes, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Ruta Provincial 39 km 143.5, Concepción del Uruguay (CP 3260), Entre Ríos, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8407-7659
  • Juan Sebastián Vittone Departamento de Rumiantes, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Ruta Provincial 39 km 143.5, Concepción del Uruguay (CP 3260), Entre Ríos, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0559-1877
  • Andrea Biolatto Departamento de Rumiantes, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Ruta Provincial 39 km 143.5, Concepción del Uruguay (CP 3260), Entre Ríos, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8127-9899
  • Sonia Alejandra Romera Instituto de Virología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Nicolás Repetto y de los Reseros s/n. (CP: 1686) Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3966-9399
  • Gustavo Adolfo Teira Laboratorio de Industrias Cárnicas, Universidad Nacional of Entre Ríos, Monseñor Tavella 1424 (CP: 3200), Concordia, Entre Ríos, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2635-2579

Resumen

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior and performance of steers in two different housing areas (10 vs. 100 m2/animal) and two feeding models (daily supply vs. self-feeding) during the fattening period. Materials and methods: Forty-eight Hereford steers with initial live weight (LW): 214,0 kg were housed under four treatments: 100DS (100 m2/animal and daily supply), 100SF (100 m2/animal and self-feeding), 10DS (10 m2/animal and daily supply), 10SF (10 m2/animal and self-feeding) until reaching a final LW of 370 – 390 kg. Behavior was recorded by observation. Dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) were recorded to estimate feed conversion ratio (FCR). Back fat thickness (BFT) and Longissimus muscle area (LMA) were measured. Steers were sent to a commercial abattoir to evaluate carcass yield. Results: The frequency of rest and walking was higher in steers in the largest housing area. Self-feeding contributed to the intake distribution during the day. No differences were detected in DMI, ADG and FCR. However, the confined animals (10DS and 10SF) produced more BFT and less LMA. In addition, they had less carcass yield at slaughter. Conclusions: Therefore, a larger housing area and the self-feeding model could contribute to express steers’ natural behavior and improve their performance.

KEYWORDS: animal welfare, cattle, feedlot, housing area, feeding (Source: MESH)

Descargas

Los datos de descarga aún no están disponibles.

Descargas

Publicado

01/13/2024

Número

Vol. 35 Núm. 3 (2023): Septiembre-Diciembre

Sección

Manejo y Alimentación

Cómo citar

Eugenia Munilla , M., Sebastián Vittone, J., Biolatto , A., Alejandra Romera , S., & Adolfo Teira , G. (2024). Behavior, performance and carcass yield of steers with different comfort conditioning during the fattening period. Revista De Producción Animal, 35(3). https://apm.reduc.edu.cu/index.php/rpa/article/view/129