Maximising Beef Output from the Suckler Herd through Production of Heavy Suckler Bulls - B-06-04
Duration 3 years
Team and Leader L. Dawson, F. Lively and B. Moss
Organisations Involved Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland
Background and Summary
Currently, production of beef from the suckler herd is a relatively inefficient way of producing beef as the cow has to be maintained whilst it takes up to 30 months to produce a finished animal. Prime beef production from the suckler herd has declined in recent years to the current level of 53% of beef output.
Production of a CD on 'Using research information to reduce the costs of producing milk, beef and sheep' - DBS-04-97
Duration 4 months
Team and Leader R. Steen
Organisations Involved ARINI - C.S. Mayne, D. Patterson, A. Carson, and Economics Research Division
Background and Summary
Ruminant livestock production is facing major challenges brought about mainly by the difficult economic climate which now pervades. It is our view that while new innovative research programmes are in hand to help farmers produce milk, beef and lamb more profitably the first need is for farmers to be made fully aware of the considerable amount of research information which is already available on lower cost production systems.
The Effects of Housing System on the Behaviour, Welfare and Performance of Beef Cattle - B-02-97
Duration
Team and Leader R W J Steen
Organisations involved Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough and Food Science Division, Department of Agriculture
Background and Summary
Increasing public concern for the welfare of farm animals has generated concern amongst some supermarket buyers of beef that the use of slatted accommodation may convey an image of poor animal welfare to consumers.
An Examination of Factors Affecting the Dirtiness of Finished Beef Cattle - B-01-97
Duration
Team and Leader R W J Steen
Organisations Involved Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Food Science Division, Department of Agriculture and The Queen?s University of Belfast.
Background and Summary
Minimising the amount of dirt on beef cattle offered for slaughter is considered to be of paramount importance in reducing the risk of bacterial contamination of beef carcasses.
Read more: An Examination of Factors Affecting the Dirtiness of Finished Beef Cattle - B-01-97
The Effects of Slaughter Weight on the Efficiency of Lean Meat Production From Holstein Bull Calves and on the Quality of Processed Meat From Their Carcasses, and its Suitability for Markets - B-04-00
Duration 6 years commencing Spring 2000
Team and Leader R.W.J. Steen
Organisations Involved Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Agricultural Economics Division, Newforge Lane and Scottish Agricultural College.
Background and Summary
Rearing and finishing Holstein calves could provide an additional enterprise for beef producers in the current situation of low profitability in the beef industry. However, beef from Hosteins is only useful for manufacturing, and conventional cereal bull beef production is currently uneconomic unless one BSP can be claimed.