Christian Van Eenaeme

Signifiance of production performance traits as indicators of animal welfare

The first aim of domestication of farm animals is to control and increase the animal performance traits in order to satisfy economically the requirements of man for food with great biological value. The profit of animal production depends on economical factors and performance traits : the former are not related to animal welfare but the latter are influenced by all the constraints imposed to the animals. The literature as the clinical observations show that animals are very sensitive to modifications in the conditions of management, micro-climate and indoor equipment of the buildings. The purpose of improvement of farm conditions is to tend to the best economical arrangement between animal welfare and stockman welfare.

Effect of Grazing Method, Nitrogen Level, Supplementary Feeding and Stocking Rate on the Performance of Young Grazing Bulls

In 1981 and 1982 an experiment on beef production on pasture with growing fattening young bulls was started on permanent pastures situated on the plateau of the Belgian Ardennes. Rotational grazing and set-stocking were compared in association with the following factors: stocking rate, energetic concentrate supplement level and N-fertilizer intensity.