Belgian Blue, the crossbreeding specialist breed
CONTENTS BB: the best conformation within beef breeds BBG to export it : Belgian Blue Group The AI center A unique testing programme R&D for the future BBG over the world Why in crossbreeding : to improve profitability of dairy activities the best breed for crossbreeding A few examples worldwide
BB : the best conformation within beef breeds Belgian livestock : 1 million heads, which represents 50% of the national livestock 98% of the worldwide BB livestock 2,000 breeders for 90,000 registered cows and 2,500 registered bulls. Standards : Cows = 1.33 m / 725 kg Bulls = 1.48 m / 1200 kg Coats : white, white & blue, white & black. Average weight of the calves at birth : 45 kg (44 / 47)
BB : the best conformation within beef breeds Features of BB in pure breed : - Double-muscle gene - Early maturing animals : average calving age at 29-30 months - Docile - Fine bone structure : average carcass yield of 70 % and beef yield > 80%, the highest yields within beef breeds. - + 35% of 1st class pieces of beef - Tender and lean beef (5% fat)
BB : the best conformation within beef breeds Selection goals in pure breed : Muscle development (double-muscle gene) Size Growth : Weight performances and carcass quality , … Functional traits: early maturity, longevity, feet and legs, fertility, mortality, easy to breed … Inbreeding management Improving the herd income
BBG to export it : Belgian Blue Group The AI Centres : traceability and quality • 3 centres with 160 boxes • ± 3,000,000 straws produced / year • ISO 9001 standards
Semen analyzed before being frozen : volume, concentration, mobility. Then put in straws and printed Quality control of the straws after thawing BBG’s commitments : % progressive > 15 and % mobile > 30
A unique testing programme in crossbreeding • BBG tests bulls on Holstein cows : 25 bulls tested in 2015 • The following proofs are calculated on the progeny in crossbreeding : - Weight at birth - Gestation length - Conformation at birth
② C : R&D for the future Numerous studies are being conducted by the AWE for the future of the Belgian Blue breed, and on some highly scientific topics in partnership with the Belgian agronomic universities. Centre of Ath : control of individual performances with intake assessment Network of pilot farms in order to obtain technical and economical references Research on the quality of the semen in order to constantly improve fertility
Mid-term goal of BBG : Genomic selection of the bulls meant for terminal cross based on the main selection criteria : Calving ease, Gestation length, Conformation
BB x Holstein crossbreeding
Calvings nearly as easy as in pure breed Calving methods 90,00% 80,00% 70,00% easy 60,00% 50,00% assistance 40,00% 30,00% caesarean 20,00% 10,00% 0,00% 80 % easy calvings < 3,5% caesareans Don’t use on heifers
More beef for the same fattening period (139 days) Data Holstein Holstein x BB Difference Weight at 587 606 +3,5 % slaughter (kg) Carcass weight 309 353 +13 % (kg) Carcass yield 52,5 58,3 +5,8 % Conformation : U 0 38 % + 100% R 33 % 62 % + 47 % + 44 kg of carcass!
A carcass for the butcher : Data Holstein Holstein x BB % muscle 60,9 68,2 % bone 19,9 15,8 High-quality cuts 55 % 52 kg more beef for the butcher and mainly high-quality cuts.
Therefore, a higher purchase price for the crossed calves: Before 2010, selling price at 10 days old was around 314,7 € for crossed calves, in other words: + 200 € gain per calf compared to pure breed calves. (Results CTBBH Belgium/France) Quite the same results in Spain and Italy
Other examples of crossbreeding with similar results BB x Montbeliarde crossbreeding
BB x Zebu crossbreeding
The best breed for crossbreeding Results in Ireland of bull calves crossed on Holstein and slaughtered at 26 months old, in the AI Center of Enfield : Carcass Fat content Carcass yield Breed Confo. weight index index Charolais 399,95 1,12 -0,15 2,79 Limousin 370,84 0,98 -0,29 3,2 Simmental 371,50 0,65 -0,4 1,59 Hereford 367,43 0,56 0,53 1,02 Angus 363,12 0,69 0,4 1,8 BB 381,70 1,19 -0,56 3,87
The best breed for crossbreeding Relative prices of Holstein crossed calves for export, source UK : Meat and Livestock Commission % Bull calves Heifers Charolais 186 138 Limousin 158 117 Simmental 177 131 BB 212 193 Pure Holstein 100 100
The best breed for crossbreeding In Germany, a comparison of carcass conformations according to the EUROP system : Crossed Crossed Crossed Breed Holstein Fleckvieh Limousin BB Final weight 300 +28 +31 +61 kg % of U 0 0 33 38 % of R 33 80 77 62 % of O 77 20 0 0 Selling price 100 111 114 126 %
Czech Republic
Ireland – Crossbreeding on suckler cows
South Africa, Belgium, France
France – Crossbreeding on Montbeliarde cows On Simmental
MOROCCO – Agricultural Fair of Meknès
MOROCCO
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
CONCLUSION BBG Belgian Blue bulls, a guarantee for you to get: - Easy calvings, due to a fine bone structure, - A high carcass yield, - A higher beef yield, - Higher valued calves, so better selling price, - Concrete results in more than 40 countries around the world.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Carol DELOUME Export Manager cdeloume@netbbg.com
Recommend
More recommend
