A comparative study of Hereford and Friesian steers. 1. Growth, feed conversion and body dimensions

Abstract

Two trials were carried out to investigate the beef producing potential of Hereford and Friesian steers, representatives of the traditional 'beef' and 'dairy' types respectively. Four Hereford and four Friesian steers were individually fed on a high grain ration to achieve an average liveweight gain of 0.68 kg/day. A similar group of steers were given the same ration ad libitum to enable a study of the growth rate potential of the two breeds to be made. Amongst the ad libitum fed animals the Friesians exhibited a significantly greater average daily gain than the Herefords. The Herefords, exhibiting their early-maturing capabilities, began a period of accelerated subcutaneous fat deposition at about 11 months of age, while the Friesians showed only a slight and constant increase in fat thickness up to slaughter at 12.5 months of age. No significant between-breed differences in feed conversion ratio were detected in either the controlled fed or ad libitum fed steers. At 15 months of age, marked differences in body size were recorded, the Friesian being taller and longer than the Hereford. The Hereford displayed the more desirable 'beef type' conformation, as measured objectively by the Muscle/Skeletal Index.