Improving welfare and biosecurity practices increases performance and efficiency of beef farms

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of improving welfare and herd biosecurity practices (30-d quarantine period) on productive performance and efficiency of Italian beef commercial fattening farms. Experimental trials were carried out in 5 commercial fattening farms of a single cooperative (AZoVe, Cittadella, Italy). Charolaise young bulls (n=576) were enrolled in the trials during 4 fattening seasons. At arrival, the animals of each batch (n=48) were randomly divided in 2 theses: (Q) 24 animals were housed for the initial 30 days of fattening in an insulated, independent and sanitised area of the farm, and managed following high standard welfare conditions, and (C) 24 animals were housed with other animals and managed with standard welfare conditions. The animals were individually weighted at the beginning of the trials and after 30 days; the feed consumption was measured during the whole period and diet and faeces samples were collected at day 15 and 30 using the box as experimental unit. Data of individual animals and data collected at box level were analysed through a linear model that included fixed effects of farm, season, and thesis (Q and C) effects on average daily gain, body weight at 30 days, feed conversion rate (FCR) and estimated total tract apparent diet dry matter, neutral detergent fibre and crude protein digestibility. No significant differences were reported between thesis Q and C for average daily gain, whereas body weight at 30 days was greater (469.45 vs 461.03 kg; P≤0.05) and FCR was lower (7.98 vs 9.10; P≤0.05) for Q than C animals, respectively. The estimated digestibility parameters were not statistically different but numerically higher for the Q than the C thesis, partially explaining the better productive performances of the former group. Quarantine and high standard welfare increased beef cattle performance.