Beef production from yearling calves under conventional or organic management

Abstract

The objective of this research was to compare yearling beef calf production (bodyweight – BW gains and carcass characteristics) under organic and conventional (semi-extensive) management. The study comprised three production cycles (from weaning to slaughter) with a total of 67 calves. For the grazing periods, three replicates (1.6-ha paddocks with Lolium perenne–Trifolium repens pasture) per treatment were established, and 4–5 animals per paddock were managed. Conventional paddocks were fertilised with synthetic NPK, whereas manure was used in the organic ones. During finishing, conventional feeding consisted of concentrate ad libitum with straw (CC). Under organic regulation, pasture grazing (PG), herbage silage (HS) and maize silage (MS), all supplemented with organic concentrate, were tested. Results showed similar individual performances before finishing in both treatments. Daily BW gain per unit area during spring was greater in conventional than in organic system (5.62 vs 4.27 kg/ha; P < 0.01), propitiating greater final production in the former, a result of greater herbage production allowing higher stocking rates managed on conventional pastures. During finishing, CC yearlings had greater (P < 0.001) BW gains (1340 g/day) compared with organic feeding systems, although MS feeding enhanced the gains (1116 g/day) over those achieved in PG or HS (average 709 g/day). There were no differences among feeding systems in carcass weight and conformation, while the rib dissection revealed greater fat contents in CC and MS relative to PG and HS (10.2 vs 7.5%; P < 0.05). Feeding with maize silage during finishing could be a good option to achieve organic beef production levels close to the conventional ones. However, the high price of organic concentrate raised feeding costs during finishing in a way that organic beef fattening was 36% less efficient than the conventional system in terms of product sales (applying the same price per kg carcass weight) minus feeding costs per unit of land area.