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| Fleckvieh
as suckler cows: |
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| Fleckvieh
suckler cows have to compete with different specialised beef breeds.
But thanks to the excellent breeding performance and milk production,
the high daily gains and the good carcass- and beef quality Fleckvieh
can easily bear this comparison. |
- Fleckvieh
cows have excellent mothering abilities and their good milk production
and persistence (flat lactation curve) guarantee high weaning
weights.
- Fleckvieh
weaners impress through their fast growth, their frame and muscling.
They can be fattened up to a weight of 600 to 700 kg without becoming
fat.
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Breeding
performance: |
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breeding performance of Fleckvieh is characterized by a high productivity.
A high conception rate (average 93% for heifers and cows), short
intercalving periods (average 378 days) and a high percentage of
twin births (about 5% of all births) guarantee a high calving percentage.
Calving ease is another characteristic in favour of Fleckvieh. |
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Calving ease |
| This
link shows a comparison of the calving ease of different
beef breeds. |
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| Milk
production: |
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good milk production of the Fleckvieh cow allows her calf to fully
express its genetically determined growth potential. Depending on
the length of the suckling period Fleckvieh calves have daily gains
of 1.100 to 1.500g. Thus, even on less productive pastures, high
weaning weights can be obtained. |
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Beef
production: |
| Fleckvieh
is known for its excellent beef production and the high growth potential
of the animals. Depending on the fattening intensity, young bulls
have daily gains of 1.100 to 1.300g. |
| Prolonged
growth curves along with later carcass fat deposition allow Fleckvieh
to reach high slaughter weights with exceptional dressing percentage.
Results show that
carcasses are harvested at 58 to 62% meat yield with a dressing percentage
of 69 to 71%
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Growth capacity |
| Here
you find further information on the growth capacity of Fleckvieh-bulls
and -heifers in testing facilities and in the field. |
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| As
far as beef performance is concerned Fleckvieh can easily compete
with specialised beef breeds as investigations carried out by Dr.
Jörg Martin / Landesforschungsanstalt Dummersdorf/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
and Dipl.-Landwirt Ferdinand Engel showed. |
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| Beef quality: |
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beef produced from Fleckvieh cattle is well marbled, tender and
has a good taste, irrespective of whether it was produced of bulls,
heifers or steers. In order to further improve the beef quality
of Fleckvieh, Bavarian Fleckvieh Genetics has its sires tested for
marbling and tendernes with DNA-tests developed by the Australian
company GeneSTAR. This enables farmers to select special sires to
improve the beef quality traits of their herds. |
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Fleckvieh
as dam breed for crossing programmes: |
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Because
of their excellent milk production Fleckvieh cows are often used as
dam breed for crossing programmes to produce excellent weaners. Depending
on the production system, different sire breeds can be used as crossing
partners. The combination "dam with lots of milk" and "bull
with lots of beef" brings about significant advantages for the
feedlots. |
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hot countries with a high solar radiation the best option is to cross
Fleckvieh with Bos Indicus breeds. |
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The
breed Simbra is one example. Pure Simbra animals carry 5/8 Fleckvieh
(Simmentaler) genes and 3/8 Brahman-genes. This breed combines the
advantages of Fleckvieh with those of Brahman-cattle like longevity,
heat tolerance and resistance to diseases. |
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| Polled
sires: |
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| Bavarian
Fleckvieh Genetics offers a wide variety of polled sires that are
excellently suited for suckler cows. |
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| These results
partly come from research works done by |
| Dr. Jörg
Martin |
| Landesforschungsanstalt
für Landwirtschaft und Fischerei Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
| Institut für
Tierproduktion in Dummersdorf |
| und |
| Ferdinand Engel |
| Groß Helle |
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