Growth and carcase characteristics of Simmental × Friesian and Friesian × Friesian cattle in a Mediterranean environment

Abstract

The calving performance of 152 Friesian cows, located on two properties in the southern Adelaide Hills region of South Australia and mated to Simmental and Friesian sires, is reported. The growth of their steer and heifer progeny and the carcase characteristics of the steer progeny are also reported. Differences due to breed of sire in the incidence of both assisted calvings and calf deaths at birth were not significant on either property. The number of assisted calvings ranged from 1 in 36 calvings for Friesian x Friesian to 3 in 31 calvings for the Simmental x Friesian, both recorded on the same property. The Simmental x Friesian progeny were always significantly heavier at birth than the Friesian progeny. On one property, the Simmental x Friesian and Friesian x Friesian steers grew at a similar rate from weaning at approximately 11 weeks of age until slaughter at approximately 32 months of age, at which stage their carcases did not differ significantly in weight, length, fat cover and eye muscle area. On the other property, the Simmental x Friesian steers grew significantly faster from weaning to slaughter than did the Friesian x Friesian steers. When slaughtered at approximately 34 months of age, the Simmental x Friesian carcases were heavier (P < 0.001 ) and had a larger eye muscle area (P < 0.001 ) than the Friesian x Friesian steers, but there were no significant differences in length or fat cover. The carcases of both breed types were leaner than required by the local Adelaide market and steers would need to be slaughtered at heavier liveweights than those used in this study for acceptable levels of carcase fatness to be achieved.