Comparison of Pure and Crossbred Japanese Black Steers in Growth Performance and Metabolic Features from Birth to Slaughter at a Spanish Fattening Farm
Juan M. Vázquez-Mosquera,
Eduardo de Mercado,
Aitor Fernández-Novo,
Juan C. Gardón,
José L. Pesántez-Pacheco,
María Luz Pérez-Solana,
Ángel Revilla-Ruiz,
Daniel Martínez,
Arantxa Villagrá,
Francisco Sebastián,
Sonia S. Pérez-Garnelo,
Susana Astiz
Affiliations
Juan M. Vázquez-Mosquera
Medicine and Surgery Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, Puerta de Hierro Avenue s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Eduardo de Mercado
Animal Reproduction Department, National Institute of Agronomic Research (INIA-CSIC), Puerta de Hierro Avenue s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Aitor Fernández-Novo
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, C/Tajo s/n, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670 Madrid, Spain
Juan C. Gardón
Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary and Experimental Sciences Faculty, Catholic University of Valencia-San Vicente Mártir, Guillem de Castro, 94, 46001 Valencia, Spain
José L. Pesántez-Pacheco
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University of Cuenca, Av. Doce de Octubre, Cuenca 010220, Ecuador
María Luz Pérez-Solana
Animal Reproduction Department, National Institute of Agronomic Research (INIA-CSIC), Puerta de Hierro Avenue s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Ángel Revilla-Ruiz
Medicine and Surgery Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, Puerta de Hierro Avenue s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Daniel Martínez
Embriovet S.L, Polígono Industrial de Piadela II-8, Betanzos, 15300 A Coruña, Spain
Japanese Black (Wagyu) cattle produce high-quality beef. However, whether Wagyu steers can be profitably raised under conditions different than the traditional Japanese ones remains unclear. From 2018 to 2020, we raised 262 Wagyu purebred steers, 103 Wagyu-by-Angus (Wangus) crossbred steers, and 43 Angus-by-European (ACL) crossbred steers on a Spanish farm with high welfare standards and a locally sourced, high-olein diet. Factors and factors’ interactions impacting steer growth were analyzed using generalized linear models. ACL steers grew faster than the other two groups, with Wangus showing intermediate fattening and muscle development. Average daily weight gains (kg/day) were 0.916 for Wagyu, 1.046 for Wangus, and 1.293 for ACL during the weaning to growing period, and 0.628 for Wagyu, 0.64 for Wangus, and 0.802 for ACL during the growing to fattening phase. ACL showed the lowest marbling rates. Wagyu and Wangus usually showed higher cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein than ACL. ACL calves may experience greater stress at weaning, as suggested by higher glucose, lactate, and β-hydroxybutyrate than the other groups. The results suggest that Wagyu and Wangus steers showed adequate growth, health, and metabolic development in this type of production system, with Wagyu purebreds probably being more profitable than Wangus crossbreeds.
