Nötköttsproduktion i Västerbotten

Abstract: Beef production in Sweden has traditionally been about rearing of dairy calves to slaughter. With reduced number of dairy cows and accordingly less dairy calves for slaughter, there has been a need for new forms of beef production in Sweden. In Västerbotten there are good conditions for beef production with a high feeding level of roughage due to favourable climate. The aim of this thesis is to, through interviews with ten farmers with beef production in Västerbotten, study what and with how much they feed their animals and link the results to production level. The thesis begins with a literature review where the general feeding standards and feeding recommendations for beef cows and growing cattle are examined. Then follows an analysis of how a cold climate may affect the rearing of growing cattle in growth and slaughter performance.A beef cow primary function is to produce one calf a year, which means that the feed costs should be as low as possible. When a beef cow can consume up to 12 kg DS roughage per day the energy level of the roughage shall be as low as possible. Suitable roughage to beef cows can be full-crop silage, green fodder or a mixture of grass silage and straw. For growing cattle you aim at a high level of muscles (protein) in the slaughter body together with a low amount of fat. The feeding recommendations for growing cattle are based on weight interval, daily gain and breed. When it comes to the climate aspect, beef cows seems not to be affected by cold weather. For growing cattle a low temperature can decrease growth and feed efficiency. Of the participating farmers in the thesis, seven of them had beef cow production and eight had growing cattle. All farmers produced their own roughage and some had also grain production. The analytical results showed that the mean value of roughage was high and the farmers with beef cows had difficulties producing roughage with low energy values. All farmers with beef cows overfed their animals with energy comparing to the recommendations. However, only three of the farmers thought that their cows were fat. The farmers with heavy beef breeds (Charolais, Simmental, Limousin) had no problems with fat cows suggesting that the heavier beef breeds are more suitable for the feeding conditions in Västerbotten than the light beef breeds (Hereford, Angus). Even for growing cattle the heavier breeds seemed to benefit more than the smaller breeds from the feeding conditions (high level of energy in the feeding plan).