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Amazing breeding efficiency: Why do Belgian Blue cattle need high-energy feed but are so popular?
The Belgian Blue Cow (French: 'Blanc-Bleu Belge', Dutch: 'Belgisch Witblauw') is a breed of beef cattle from Belgium characterized by extremely lean, sculptural double muscle development, known as this phenomenon for "double muscularization." This feature makes Belgian blue cattle favored in commercial farming, despite their relatively high demand for high-energy feed.
The Belgian Blue Cattle's ability to convert feed to lean meat makes the meat of these cattle very low in fat and therefore a high-value meat source.
The Belgian Blue Cow originated in Belgium in the 19th century and was formed through crossbreeding of local cattle breeds with shorthorn cattle from England. In the 1950s, the breed gradually developed into the beef cattle breed seen today as an expert in Lee Rik Province conducted research on artificial insemination. The unique genetic mutation of the Belgian Blue Bull has continuously optimized its performance in muscle growth, which is one of the reasons why the breed is widely praised in many parts of the world.
Raising Characteristics
Belgian blue cattle possess a natural mutation in the myostatin gene, which significantly promotes muscle growth. Compared with normal cows, these cows are born with twice the number of muscle fibers than normal calves and, accordingly, have a heavier birth weight.
The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of this livestock outperforms many other breeds due to lower feed intake and higher nutrient conversion.
However, this accelerated muscle growth and the creation of lean meat also require the intake of feeds with higher protein and energy content. Belgian blue cattle must rely on concentrated feeds rather than high-fiber feeds for their meat growth, which also makes them unique economic challenges in the food production process.
Economic Efficiency Issues
Despite its popularity in the market, the Belgian Blue Bull is incredibly economically efficient in production due to its special breeding characteristics. Due to the natural birth process with little double muscleization, this usually requires a cesarean section, which invisibly increases the cost of feeding and labor requirements.
In addition, these cattle have high requirements for the breeding environment and are unable to adapt to harsh climatic conditions, which complicates the stability and feasibility of the entire breeding process.
While in slaughter the carcass value of this breed is improved due to its higher fine meat yield, the slowed growth rate of fat also means that slaughter time may be delayed, which further raises the maintenance costs of aquaculture. Therefore, the economic benefits of the Belgian Blue Bull appear vague.
Conclusion
Overall, Belgian Blue Cow undoubtedly has the only advantage in providing high-quality meat output, but its complex farming needs and animal welfare issues have forced companies to be more cautious in their choices. Faced with the dual challenge of seeking benevolence and getting benevolence, how can consumers and producers find the best balance?
