Reserves to increase beef production and their use

Abstract

The studies were carried out on three groups of superreplacement heifers of the Simmental breed, which were impregnated at the body weight of 360 kg. In the first group there were 32 unimpregnated heifers, in the second – 28 heifers, in the third – 30 heifers. The heifers of the first group after growing at the age of 18 months were taken for meat. 56 heifers gave the crop. The heifers were transferred for reproduction, and the bull-calves were put on cultivation and further fattening. To obtain well-fed animals, special diets were made so that the average daily gain was at least 650-700 g. After calving, the cows of the second group were taken for meat, and the cows of the third group were put on a 3-month fattening, and then taken for meat. The pre-slaughter weight of animals of the first group was 52 kg lower than that of animals of the second group and 104.7 kg lower than that of the third group. The difference was statistically significant at P>0.999. The interior fat mass was higher in the carcasses of cows of the second group by 1.1 and 3.2 kg compared to the animals of the third and first groups. The carcass yield was almost at the same level slightly ahead of the animals of the first group. Their slaughter yield was 60.1%, in other groups – 58.8-59.6%. The meatiness ratio was slightly higher in animals of the first group. The carcass weight of the first-calf heifers of the third group was 27.4 kg higher than that of the second group. Compared to the first group, this figure is higher by 52.6 kg. Specific carcass meat weight of the animals of the third group was 82.75%, which is higher than in the second and first groups by 0.41-0.85%, respectively. Heavy cowbanes weighing 32.6 and 40.4 kg were obtained from the animals. The skin of animals of the third group was 3.5-21.6 dm2 larger in area than of the animals of the second and first groups. Feeder bull-calves (n=27) had a removable mass of 532 kg. Heavy (282.3 kg) carcasses of good morphological composition were obtained from them. The sales revenue from first-calf heifers (second group) was higher than fattened heifers by 10.4%, and in comparison with fattened animals after calving (third group) it was lower by 9.4%. From the sale of one cow with a crop, 2.9 times more profit was received than from the sale of a heifer.