2024/01/01 by Philippe Dimon, Sylvie Brouard, Dimon, Philippe +7
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #0 #Beef cattle #Breeding systems #Crossbreeding #Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock #Precocity
paper · pdf · doi:10.17180/ciag-2024-vol88-art08-gb
openalex publication_date 2024/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
In order to restore positive prospects for farmers and the beef industry, the Effiviande project, as part of a co-construction approach, has proposed new sustainable and profitable production methods. The technical operation of these new systems has been modelled, showing that the expected reduction in the carcass weight of the animals produced must be accompanied by an increase in selling prices in the contractualisation approach. The analysis was completed by monitoring 40 pilot farms, showing that the systems of interest have economic or environmental performances equivalent to or better than the averages measured on large samples of beef farms. In addition, the performance of young cattle fattened on a ration based on grass fodder and concentrates derived from by-products of the agri-food industry was measured. Crossbreeding with an early Angus breed produced lighter carcasses (360 kg) with good fat cover (Body Condition Score (BCS) of 3.5), while reducing fattening time. Finally, the work has enabled the construction of a technical 'precocity' index adapted to the meat production systems deemed to be of interest and enabling the identification and selection of precocity animals.