Optibeef - Increased meat production from beef cattle herds

Production-reproduction Calving records was used to study birthweight and calf lifetime production of suckler cows. Both studies showed significant effects of farm, breed, region and breed x region interaction. Automatic heat detection was compared with visual signs of oestrus in a Hereford herd, which indicated that AI should occur earlier than is recommended. A follow-up study in six herds using the same oestrus detection system to study the effect of time from heat-detection until insemination on conception rate indicate that a higher conception rate is obtained in the time interval 0-8 and 16-24 h after heat detection. Data collection is finished but a few concluding analyses are left. Crossbreeding-optimise output Analyses of 26 300 calvings to study various factors affecting gestation length, calving difficulties and calf losses in purebred and crossbred matings showed significant breed and crossbred differences. The traits were affected by birth weight, gender, age of cow, twinning and herd. Slaughter and herd data (2010-2017) consisted of Angus (A), Hereford (H), Charolais (CH), Limousin (LIM), Simmental (SIM) and NRF breeds, in addition to two- and three breed crosses. Results revealed significant heterosis effects and crossbred 50 % NRF dams reduced calving difficulties and increased weaning weights compared to purebred beef breed dams, in addition to high average daily carcass gain in crosses with all beef breeds. Continental breeds and their crosses had higher carcass weights for age. LIM had the highest carcass income per kg carcass weight, followed by continental crosses with NRF. Herd studies-production A number (n=31) of Norwegian suckler herds were categorised as either extensive or intensive. Significant GxE interactions were observed for several traits; number and kg of weaned calf measured per mated cow or per 100 kg metabolic cowweight, in addition to gram weaned calf/MJ NE. Angus had the highest feed efficiency measured as gram weaned calf/MJ NE in the suckler period, which suggests that the breeds might differ in biological effectivity of calf production. Effects of feed intensity level during heifer rearing on 1th parity birth weights (BW), 200-d weaning weights (WW) and calving difficulties (CD) were studied. Novel results from this MSc study showed that a high feed intensity level had significant effects resulting in higher BW and WW and an increase in CD compared to a lower (200-300 FU) feed intensity. A MSc study now utilize a part of the herds to evaluate climate mitigation options in their herds. Herd studies-economy Continental breeds used more cultivated meadows compared to British breeds, which utilized relatively more pasture. Production costs for grass silage was lower than concentrates on 85 % of the farms. Cultivated and uncultivated outfield pastures were cheaper than silage. Farms in the low-lands had the highest net farm income, poorest economic results were in the valleys/mountains. Profit per hour was 151 Nkr/h in large herds and 95 Nkr/h in small herds. Higher fixed costs and working hours provided lower profit/h on high production intensity farms. Gross margins per cow were approx. 3800 Nkr (British) and 2100 Nkr (Continental) higher on farms with high calf growth rate compared to low. Reduction in age at first calving to 24 months reduced costs with 26 000 Nkr for British, and 36 000 Nkr for Continental breeds, respectively (given herd size 35 cows). A simulation model studying effects of calf growth rate, synchronized calvings and increased carcass production from heifers maximizes gross margins, subsidies and fixed costs under given assumptions. Use of straw as winter feed was profitable in the low-land and in the valleys/mountain areas. The British breeds were most profitable in all regions, due to lower demands of feed- and area resources. Concentrated calvings is profitable, depending on calf losses and workload. Increased profit is obtained by carcass production of heifers after 1th parturition compared to sales of calves at weaning. Optimal breeding programs Data from the beef breed performance test station were used in simulations of test programme alternatives. The test contributes to increased genetic gain for growth and carcass traits, but unfavorable effects on birth weight and calving difficulties. A reduction from five to four breeds in test or to one breed will increase the total gain with approx. 20 % to 55 %, respectively. A doubling of the test capacity will increase genetic gain with 22 % compared to the current situation. Use of field data in selection of test bulls will increase genetic gain. However, the level of gain will vary between breeds. A BSc genetic study of the Norwegian Simmental population using test station data from 1998-2019 confirmed that genetic gain based on a domestic gene pool is difficult to obtain in a small population when selection intensity is low and gene import is needed to avoid inbreeding.

Stor prosjektaktivitet har bidratt med mer ny kunnskap om norsk ammekuproduksjon enn forventet. Forskningen vil resultere i tre PhD avhandlinger, 8 vitenskapelige artikler, samt flere masteroppgaver og bruk i øvrig undervisning ved NMBU. Brukerrettede formidlingstiltak har hatt høy prioritet med resultater gjort tilgjengelig for næringspartnere fortløpende. Nytt kunnskapsgrunnlag bør være et viktig bidrag for å øke effektivitet og økonomi i næringen. Resultater har også vært nyttig knyttet til formidling av forskningsbasert kunnskap til beslutningstakere og andre aktører i næring, forvaltning og i samfunnsdebatten. Tallfesting av klimagassutslipp fra norske gårder med ammeku, samt korrigering av utslippsfaktorer for metan og N-utskillelse/organisk stoff i gjødsel fra ammekyr i nasjonal rapportering til FN har vært viktige bidrag. Det forventes at kunnskapen fra prosjektet vil ha langsiktige effekter ved at kunnskapen spres over tid slik at hele næringen kan ta denne i bruk.

Structural changes in the dairy sector and slow increase in number of suckler cows has led to a net decrease of approx. 25 000 cows the last decade. In 2012, the wholesale beef volume was all-time high, coincidently as the domestic supply reached a histor ically low level. A high market demand for domestic beef, combined with political signals of improved self-sufficiency, has raised a need for initiatives to reverse this trend. Given the current supply of dairy beef, a volume increase mainly has to come f rom beef cattle. However, these herds are characterised by a lowered productivity due to suboptimal management practices. Improved decision-making will contribute to increased farm efficiency and -economy in addition to a higher national beef production. The project goals will be obtained by a combination of approaches. Subgoal 1 includes detailed studies of a number of herds, including performance data (herd recording; SFK) and herd accounts. The herds will be selected by a given set of criteria. By combining animal performance, economy and farm resources, factors that influence productivity may be identified and quantified. Analyses of larger data sets from SFK and the slaughter industry will explore the same sources of variation in herd productiv ity nationwide, (subgoal 1&2), in addition to the potential of systematic crossbreeding for optimal carcass production (subgoal 3). Furthermore, simulations will be performed to study the effect of changes in production conditions on herd beef output and economic results. Currently, the organisation of the national breeding program indicates a suboptimal use of resources. Research is needed to analyse the breeding structures necessary to optimise genetic gain (subgoal 3). The results from the various proj ect parts will be subjected to an overall evaluation and ranked according to their effect on herd beef output and economy, to develop a set of advisory guidelines for the farmers and industry (subgoal 4).