Case Study on the Impact of Water Resources in Beef Production: Corn vs. Triticale Silage in the Diet of Limousine × Podolian Young Bulls.

In this study, we have included the water footprint (WF) in the process of optimizing animal feed rations. The global footprint of cattle production accounts for the largest share (33%) of the global water footprint of livestock production. Using two homogeneous groups of Limousine × Podolian young bulls, two different diets were compared: corn silage feeding (CSF), with a corn silage-based diet; and triticale silage feeding (TSF), with a triticale silage-based diet. Silage constituted about 41% and 46% of the feed composition (for CSF and TSF, respectively). Diets were characterised by the same energy and protein content. Despite the lower WF in the TSF group than in the CSF group (7726 vs. 8571 L/day/calf respectively), no significant differences were found in animal performances (i.e., daily weight gain and final weight), feed conversion or income over feed costs. These results show that simple production decisions can have a significant impact on water resource. Therefore, the use of triticale silage should be further promoted, especially in world regions with limited water resources where low WF feed formulation is more strategic than elsewhere.

Exploring potential risk factors of antimicrobial use in beef cattle.

Livestock species are major contributors to the increase of antimicrobial (AM) resistance which is a worldwide concern for both human and animal health. The over-use of AM is widely acknowledged, however, unlike pigs, poultry and dairy cattle, knowledge on potential risk factors affecting AM usage (AMU) in beef industry is limited. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the impact of farm, breed, sex and season of arrival of purchased beef cattle on AMU in Italian beef cattle. Data on 1063 batches were collected from January 2016 to April 2019 from specialised beef fattening farms located in the north of Italy. Information on breed, sex, date of arrival, performance traits and AM agents used on farm was collected, and the treatment incidence 100 (TI100) indexes per batch were calculated using the defined daily dose animal estimated according to Italian summaries of product characteristics. Factors affecting TI100 indexes were investigated using a cross-classified multilevel model. Farms largely differed in terms of AMU. Males had greater AMU than females (P < 0.001), likely due to their higher susceptibility to disease. Statistically significant differences were observed between seasons of arrival with summer and spring having lower TI100 indexes than winter and autumn (P < 0.001). Indeed, winter is commonly linked to an increase in respiratory diseases in beef cattle. Finally, the TI100it indexes tended to be different among breeds with Blonde d'Aquitaine and Limousine having greater AMU compared to the other breeds. Results of this study provided valuable information on potential risk factors of AMU in beef production which may be useful to address its reduction. For instance, the development of tailored management strategies for specific breeds, targeted approaches to improve the health of males as well as greater care towards batches purchased in winter are possible advice to implement on-farm for a more responsible AM stewardship.

Effect of the bovine TG5 gene polymorphism on milk- and meat-producing ability.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of thyroglobulin (TG5) gene polymorphism on milk and meat productivity in the various cattle breeds currently bred in the Republic of Bashkortostan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The test was performed on dairy cattle of Black-and-White, Bestuzhev, and Simmental breeds, and meat cattle of Hereford and limousine breeds. The purpose of the test was to search for associations between the polymorphic alleles of the thyroglobulin (TG5) gene and economically useful traits. RESULTS: All studied breeds showed a frequency predominance of the TG5C allele (from 0.56 to 0.71). A clear trend of an effect of the genotypes of the TG5 gene on milk-productivity indicators was revealed; cows with the TG5TT genotype have the highest milk yield and fat content in milk. The milk of cows of Bestuzhev and Simmental breeds that possessed this genotype was also characterized by higher protein content. CONCLUSION: We identified an effect of the polymorphism of the TG5 gene in the Hereford and limousine breeds on fat metabolism intensity indicators, such as fat output and fat content, in the longissimus muscle and in the general sample of ground beef.

Effect of feeding system and breed on growth performance, and carcass and meat quality traits in two continental beef breeds.

A total of 100 young bulls were allotted a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine the effect of the feeding system (concentrate and wheat straw: T; total mixed ration comprised of the same concentrate, maize silage and wheat straw: TMR) and breed (Limousine: LI; Retinta: RE) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality. The diets were administrated ad libitum for 193 days. The average daily weight gain was similar (P > 0.05) for both diets, while the LI bulls grew significantly (P < 0.05) more than RE. T bulls showed higher L*, a* and rib bone percentage. TMR bulls showed higher carcass yield, conformation and fatness, and greater changes in ultrasound measurements, except Δ UGMD and rib fat percentage. Instrumental meat quality, except shear force at 1 and 21 days of ageing, was not affected (P > 0.05) by the diets. Breed significantly affected most of the analyzed characteristics.

Marbling in the longissimus thoracis muscle from lean cattle breeds. Computer image analysis of fresh versus stained meat samples.

One hundred eighty ribeye steaks from Charolais, Limousin and Retinta bulls were used to describe and compare the marbling fat between fresh and stained samples. Image analysis overestimated the intramuscular fat content (P<0.05) in relation to chemical analysis. Staining had a significant effect (P<0.05) on most of the marbling fleck traits, showing an increase in the number of marbling flecks and the proportion of marbling fleck area in the whole and in the ventral half of the longissimus m., and a decrease in the size, length and width of marbling flecks. Breed had a significant influence (P<0.05) on some quantity traits of marbling, but not in the distribution and structure of marbling flecks (P>0.05). Retinta breed was leaner than French breeds and showed fewer and smaller marbling flecks (P<0.05). The results showed a positive correlation (r=0.183 to 0.465) between USDA marbling score, and intramuscular fat by image and chemical analysis.