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 program 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 3 centres with 160 boxes THE AI CENTRES: TRACEABILITY AND QUALITY ± 3,500,000 straws produced / year ISO 9001 standards
BBG TO EXPORT IT : BELGIAN BLUE GROUP 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.
BBG TO EXPORT IT : BELGIAN BLUE GROUP A UNIQUE TESTING PROGRAMME IN CROSSBREEDING BG tests bulls on Holstein cows : 20-25 bulls tested per year from 2015. The following proofs are calculated on the progeny in crossbreeding : Weight at birth Ease of calving Gestation length Conformation at birth Thiness of the bones
BBG TO EXPORT IT : BELGIAN BLUE GROUP 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 Polled bulls
BB x Holstein crossbreeding WHY IN CROSSBREEDING?
WHY IN CROSSBREEDING? Calvings nearly as easy as in pure breed : 80 % easy calvings < 3,5% caesareans Don t use on heifers! 100,00% 80,00% 60,00% Easy Assistance 40,00% Caesarean 20,00% 0,00% Calving methods
WHY IN CROSSBREEDING? More beef for the same fattening period (139 days) Data Holstein Holstein x BB Difference Weight at slaughter (kg) 587 606 +3,5% Carcass weight (kg) 309 353 +13% Carcass yield 52,5 58,3 +5,8% Conformation: U 0 38% +100% R 33% 62% +47%
WHY IN CROSSBREEDING? A carcass for the butcher : Data Holstein Holstein x BB % muscle 60,9 68,2 % bone 19,9 15,8 High-quality cuts 55%
WHY IN CROSSBREEDING? Therefore, a higher purchase price for the crossed calves: In Belgium, crossbred calves are payed 3 until 4 times more than pure breed Holstein at the same age (between 2 weeks and one month) Quite the same results in UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, Roumania.
WHY IN CROSSBREEDING?
WHY IN CROSSBREEDING?
BB x Montbeliarde crossbreeding WHY IN CROSSBREEDING?
BB x Zebu crossbreeding WHY IN CROSSBREEDING?
WHY IN 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 : Breed Carcass weight Confo. Fat content index Carcass yield 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
A FEW EXAMPLES WORLDWIDE
A FEW EXAMPLES WORLDWIDE Irelande, crossbreeding on suckler cows
South Africa, Belgium, France A FEW EXAMPLES WORLDWIDE
Morocco, Agricultural Fair of Meknès A FEW EXAMPLES WORLDWIDE
In Russia : A FEW EXAMPLES WORLDWIDE
In Italy
In Iran
In Tchad
CONCLUSION BBG Belgian Blue bulls, a guarantee for you to get: Easy calving due to a fine bone structure and length of the body. A higher carcass yield A higher beef yield Higher valued calves, so better selling price Concrete results in more than 45 countries around the world
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Carol DELOUME Export Manager cdeloume@netbbg.com