Fattening of steers without concentrate - Part 2: Effect of sward surface height on continuous grassed pastures on slaughtering performance, meat quality and economic efficiency

In pasture based cattle production systems stocking rate and sward surface height significantly influences animal performance and productivity per unit pasture area. STEINWIDDER et al (2019) investigated the influence of pasture height in a continuously grazed pasture system on fattening performance and area productivity. In this paper the influence of pasture height on slaughter performance, meat quality and economic parameters were evaluated. Therefore, a concentrate-free feeding system with Simmental steers from 225 to 700 kg live weight was carried out in mountainous region of Austria. The experiment was carried out in two replications with a total of 24 steers, divided into 3 experimental groups per year. In experimental group "kurz", a target pasture growth height of 5.0 cm, in group "mittel" of 6.5 cm and in group "lang" of 8.0 cm was used. After the first grazing period the steer groups were kept in stable and fed with grass silage. In the next vegetation period the steers grazed on pasture again. With the exception of four animals in group "kurz", which had to be finished in stable in autumn, all steers were slaughtered during the grazing period. The average slaughter age of the animals was 26.4 (kurz), 24.8 (mittel) and 24.2 (lang) months, respectively. The carcass and meat quality did not differ between the experimental groups and was at a good level on average. In pasture-based cattle fattening, however, a slightly darker meat colour and a more yellow fat colour must be expected, while the proportion of nutritionally desirable fatty acids is higher. From an economic point of view, the group "mittel" achieved the most favourable result.