SHARING OPTIONS:
In order to compensate farmers for the reduced performance of steers over bulls, a beef price in excess of €4.45/kg would be required.
Both national and international research looking at bulls versus steers would all concur that when managed similarly in terms of diet and slaughtered at the same age, bulls will have a:
Higher daily liveweight gain (8% to 10%).
Heavier carcase weight (10% to 15%).
Better feed conversion efficiency (10% to 15%).
Higher lean meat yield (20%).
Higher conformation score and lower carcase fat scores.
From 2010 through to 2015, there was extensive research carried out in Teagasc Grange on suckler-bred bull-beef systems.
One such study compared bulls and steers. These animals were purchased as weanlings in autumn and half were castrated prior to the start of the study.