Description

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the main cultivated pasture in Argentina. In beef production enhanced productivity and profit depend on high stocking rates and pasture utilisation, with grain supplementation necessary to maintain high individual live weight gains (LWG) and to increase production per ha (Ustarroz, 1999). Substitution of grazed grass by concentrate can affect meat fatty acid (FA) composition (French et al., 2000). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of intensifying an alfalfa-based grazing system and two confinement dietary regimens for beef steer finishing on animal performance and meat FA composition.

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Supplementation Under Intensive Grazing, Silage- Or Grain-Based Diets for Beef Production on Steer Performance and Meat Fatty Acid Composition

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the main cultivated pasture in Argentina. In beef production enhanced productivity and profit depend on high stocking rates and pasture utilisation, with grain supplementation necessary to maintain high individual live weight gains (LWG) and to increase production per ha (Ustarroz, 1999). Substitution of grazed grass by concentrate can affect meat fatty acid (FA) composition (French et al., 2000). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of intensifying an alfalfa-based grazing system and two confinement dietary regimens for beef steer finishing on animal performance and meat FA composition.