Effect of grass silage and concentrate based finishing strategies on cull dairy cow performance, carcass and meat quality characteristics

Sixty-eight spring calving Holstein–Friesian dairy cows on completion of lactation were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments. The experiment commenced on 17th December 2005 and was completed on 27th June 2006. Pre-experimental live weight and BCS were 605 kg (s.d. 68.9) and 2.7 (s.d 0.28), respectively. The four treatments were: ad-lib grass silage (GS), GS + 3 kg concentrate (GS + 3), GS + 6 kg concentrate (GS + 6) and GS + 9 kg concentrate (GS + 9). All cows were finished to a live weight > 620 kg and a BCS > 3.5. Live animal, carcass and meat quality characteristics were measured. Mean (s.d.) total feed utilized was similar, at 1.5 (0.05) tonnes DM/cow across all treatments. There was a linear (P < 0.001) increase in ADG (kg/day) for the first three dietary treatments, GS (0.71), GS + 3 (0.91), GS + 6 (1.14) with no additional response to the final increment, GS + 9 (1.15). As concentrate proportion in the diet increased there was a linear decrease (P < 0.001) in days to slaughter. Cows on the GS + 9 treatment (84 days) finished on average 12, 25 and 38 days earlier than those on the GS + 6, GS + 3, and GS treatments. The GS + 9 treatment had lower carcass fat yellowness (‘b’ value) than the GS treatment but the GS + 3 and GS + 6 treatments did not differ from either GS or GS + 9. There was no effect of treatment (P > 0.05) on muscle redness (‘a’ value) following exposure to oxygen. When cull cows are finished to pre-defined slaughter criteria, similar carcass classifications and carcass quality can be achieved with diets ranging from GS to GS + 9, however significant difference in physical performance and days to slaughter will result.