Ensuring availability of Finnish beef

The aim of the project is to explore new ways to ensure availability of domestic beef and restrain decreasing self-sufficiency of beef. Increasing average slaughter weight of milk-beef breed heifers and improving the feeding of cull cows could be methods to increase domestic beef production. The effects of the increased slaughter weight, the length of the growing period and intensity of the feeding on the performance of the dairy-beef breed heifers will be studied. Profitability and environmental impacts of the production will also be taken into consideration. Effects of the improved cull cows feeding on carcass characteristics, valuable cuts, profitability and suitability will also be studied. The project strengthens national food security and beef self-sufficiency and improves sustainable use of resources in beef and milk production chain.