RESEARCH REGARDING THE FACTORS INFLUENCING MEAT PRODUCTION AT A BOVINE HERD

V. Maciuc, C.E. Nistor, E.C. Popescu

Abstract
   The present paper proposes a bold approach to a topical issue, namely the production of beef meat. The study was conducted on a herd of 120 Aberdeen Angus cattle. Genetic and exploitative factors that influence meat production have been studied on this biological material.
   In conditions, of an extensive exploitation system, the medium value of 1111.16 g for the average daily gain is very good. The limits were between 869 g and 1453 g.
   The body weight at 200 days registered an average value of 255.5 kg with limits between 171.8 and 322.6 kg.
   Analyzing the results of the descendants by sex factor, we found significant differences in the average daily gain, and the body weight at 200 days, in favour of the males. Thus, the average daily gain was 1060.4 g for females and 1268.2 g for males, the difference being significant with 208 g. The body weight at 200 days evolved accordingly, in favour of males with 50.63 kg respectively, a body weight of 245.46 kg was recorded for females and 296.09 kg for males.
   The birth weight is positively and intermediary correlated with the mean daily gain r=0.375 (37%), the link being significant for p<0.01, but also with the index of the average daily gain r=0.315 for p<0.05.
   As a conclusion, in the case of the studied herd, we find that both exploitation and genetic factors have positively influenced the results on meat production indicators

Key words: production, meat, cattle, breed, correlations