Much better weight gains from grain

Press, 28 April 1989, Page 16

Much better weight gains from grain

Grain-fed cattle were vastly different from those raised on grass, said the manager of a leading Charolais stud in Canada, Mr Sid Kent. Weight gains were about double what could be expected on a grass diet, he said. Almost all prime cattle in Canada were raised on grain. Mr Kent, who was in New Zealand in a search for new bloodlines for Soderglen Farms, said it was unusual to have cattle older than 15 months. Typical weight gains for grain-fed cattle were between 1.3 and 2kg a day. Meat from grain-fed cattle was more tender and had less fat than grass-fed animals. Taste and texture were also different. Cattle aged 15 months

in Canada would be the equivalent of 18-month to two-year-old cattle in New Zealand. "We would have one tonne steers if we kept them to 18 months. It is not economical to have that big a carcase,” he said. The quick weight gains were not only due to the diet of grain but a different style of management. While cattle in New Zealand had to "roam country scrounging for feed,” Canadian cattle were confined to feed lots. Accompanying Mr Kent on his visit to New Zealand and Australia was Mr Kevin Boon who handles sales of semen in Canada for Ulverstone Breeders, Ltd. The company uses semen from Silversteam

Ulverstone, a top ranking Charolais bull bred by Mr Bruce Fisher at Greenpark. He said Ulverstone had been selected to take part in a trial with nine other top ranking bulls in Canada. Each bull was put over 100 cows and was to be judged on conception rates, ease of birth of progeny, and weaning weights. The calves would then be fattened on grain, butchered and graded.

The two year programme was still in its early stages with the calves having only recently been born. Early results were not available. Mr Boon said Canadian breeders seemed happy with the New Zealand bull and 90 per cent of buyers who had used his semen had ordered more.