Beef production in the E.E.C. and the co-ordination of research by the Commission of the European Communities

Livestock Production Science, 3(1976)305--318 © Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands

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B E E F P R O D U C T I O N IN THE E.E.C. A N D THE C O - O R D I N A T I O N O F R E S E A R C H BY T H E C O M M I S S I O N O F T H E E U R O P E A N C O M M U N I T I E S

J.C. TAYLER The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 5LR (Great Britain) (Received June 24th, 1976)

ABSTRACT Tayler, J.C., 1976. Beef production in the E.E.C. and the co-ordination of research by the Commission of the European Communities. Livest. Prod. Sci., 3: 305--318.

Beef production comprises about 40% of the budget for the 3-year common programme of research in the European Economic Community, granted in 1975 for funding by the Commission. In addition, a full co-ordination programme of seven seminars was held in 1975/1976 on aspects of beef research closely connected with the common programme. The results of about 200 papers and discussion sessions provide a summary of the genetic, nutritional and management aspects of beef production in the Community and some of the research in progress. Many avenues for increased production or improved efficiency of conversion of feed to beef were examined. A survey of breeds and feeds was made; cross-breeding was studied and research on nutrition was reviewed. Methods of increasing the number of calves for beef production were discussed, viz. by egg transfer, by reducing perinatal ill-health, and by the early calving of heifers. An approach to improved efficiency of use of animal and land resources for milk and beef production emerged in terms of the more effective utilisation of the 80 million cattle of the Community and of its crops and by-products. The needs for future research and the common programme of research are briefly described.

INTRODUCTION B e e f p r o d u c t i o n is o n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t o f t h e s u b j e c t s c u r r e n t l y i n c l u d e d in t h e p r o g r a m m e o f c o - o r d i n a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s e a r c h a d m i n istered by the Commission for the European Economic Community. Of the 10.3 m i l l i o n U . A . ( = U n i t s o f A c c o u n t , m o n e t a r y u n i t o f t h e E . E . C . ) g r a n t e d in 1975 for a 3-year common researeh and co-ordination programme, almost 40% was a l l o c a t e d t o t h i s s u b j e c t .

806 The background to the initiation of the research programme together with the aims and mechanisms of co-ordination have already been described (Skovgaard, 1975; Tayler, 1976). Briefly, there are two facets of the overall process of co-ordination: a co-ordination programme for the exchange of information, funded by the Commission; and a c o m m o n programme of research funded jointly by the Commission and by Member States. The Commission's Division (E4) "Co-ordination of Agricultural Research" administers these programmes with the assistance of scientists drawn from the Community. The scientific groups which are most fully concerned in the beef programme cover the separate subjects of genetics, nutrition and management, pathology, physiology of reproduction, and carcass quality. Funding the c o m m o n programme of research for 1 9 7 6 / 1 9 7 8 began in autumn, 1975. In the meantime a full co-ordination programme on beef production was undertaken in the form of seven seminars. These were held in various Institutes of the Member States, between June, 1975 and February, 1976, on topics closely connected with the c o m m o n research programme on beef production. The following brief account of these seminars is intended as an overall summary and a selective guide to the published proceedings, which are listed on page 397 of this issue of Livestock Production Science. Each seminar was attended by 35--50 participants and it was impracticable to give individual references to all of the 200 papers and discussion sessions on which this review is based. E.E.C. BEEF PRODUCTION AND RESEARCH At each of the seminars a survey was made of the situation in each country on the subject under consideration. These surveys provide a useful background to the research papers which followed, and give a bird's-eye view of the genetic and feed resources of the Community, linked with management, health problems and economic aspects. The requirements for future research which were discussed in the final sessions of the seminars are presented in a later section of this article, together with a brief indication of the projects in the c o m m o n research programme. Genetics

T w o seminars were held on this subject, in Dublin, Ireland (Chairman, Professor E.P. Cunningham) and in Verden, Federal Republic of Germany {Chairman, Professor H.J. Langholz). The topics covered were complementary, and provided a description of the genetic populations of the Community, methods of selection and cross-breeding, and experimental techniques. A valuable survey by Cunningham (1976a) showed that of the 80 million cattle in the E.E.C., 2 5 m are milk-producing (dairy or dual purpose) cows and 6m are suckler cows, with the rest being reared for breeding or slaughter. A b o u t half of the total c o w population, some 15m, are of the Friesian breed.

307 The e x t e n t of cross-breeding ranges from a high level of 16--30% in France, U.K. and Ireland to only 7% or less in the other countries. The scope for increases in cross-breeding is limited by the intensity of milk production, since high national yields tend to be linked with low numbers of lactations per cow. Cunningham concluded that there is a tendency for dairy populations to become more specialised, with a reduction in dual purpose types, and the contribution of beef herds seems likely to decline. The advantages of cross-breeding were quantified by a number of the papers at Verden and in some given at Dublin. On the Friesian dam the breeds of large mature size gave increases of 10--20% in rate of growth of live-weight, carcass or lean meat. In beef breeds, gross margins have been increased by 11% by the use of large breeds of sire (Baker, 1976). However, the incidence of dystocia and resulting calf mortality is often greatest with those breeds which transmit to their offspring the highest growth rate (e.g. Andersen and Liboriussen, 1976) or double muscling (Hanset et al., 1976) and this was considered to need further research. Cunningham {1976b) found that an average of 4% Holstein blood is incorporated into the existing national Friesian herds, b u t this varies widely from 14--15% in the Federal Republic of Germany and in Italy to no more than 3% in France and the U.K. This is already causing concern, however, in relation to its detrimental effects on carcass quality (Harrington, 1976). The strain was developed for high milk yields in North America, where little importance is attached to its beef qualities. This arises from the fact that, in the U.S.A., in contrast to the E.E.C., there are many more beef cows (40m) than dairy cows (12m).

Nutrition and management Seminars held at Theix, France (Chairman, Mr. R. Jarrige) and near Copenhagen, Denmark (Chairman, Professor A. Neimann-Sorensen) dealt with feed resources and management aspects. The subject at Theix was "Improving the Nutritional Efficiency of Beef Production", covering o u t p u t of beef per head and per hectare. From the opening surveys it was clear that grass is the largest single source of feed for b e e f production in the Community. The proportion of grass in the crop areas utilised for beef production was estimated in various countries at between 75% and 95%, with wide variations in the ratio of temporary to permanent grass. F o d d e r beet, swedes and kale comprise a small proportion, from 2% in France to 20% in Denmark. Maize is an important forage crop grown on a small b u t increasing area, estimated as 4--5% of the land devoted to beef production. Maize was found to give much higher yields of beef per ha on farms in the U.K. than are obtained from grass]cereal systems; to be the most profitable crop in the dry hills and irrigated plains of Italy; to be more profitable than grass silage in Germany; and to be the basis of profitable bull-beef systems in France. However, in many beef systems based on maize silage, high quantities of energy and protein

308 concentrates, up to 50% of the diet dry matter, were fed, and there was some discussion on the desirability of reducing this level of input. O u t p u t of lean meat per ha was f o u n d to be greater from grass than from barley grain diets in the U.K., and data on the relative yields and efficiency of production of beef from early- and late-maturing genotypes on different diets were given from France and the U.K. Dietary limitation could improve efficiency of lean meat production with concentrate diets. The proportion of concentrate reported in grass/cereal diets ranged from 20% to 70%, and from 150 kg to over I t per head. Wilkinson calculated that beef production in the U.K. utilised 20% of the grass area and 30% of the barley area. Although some experiments suggest a potential of twice as great an o u t p u t of b e e f per ha from grass as from barley/protein, this was n o t achieved in practice, possibly through losses in conservation. Conserved feeds were discussed in relation to their use of "support energy" (fuel, fertilizers and energy used on the farm). Silage and hay need 0.24-0.53 MJ/MJ ME {mega Joules per mega Joules of metabolizable energy) produced, compared with 0.31 MJ/MJ for barley grain and 1.5 to 1.6 MJ for dehydrated grass (Wilkins, 1976). The value of wilting, fine chopping and the use of additives was demonstrated b y the research results of Dulphy and Demarquilly, France. Contributions were made on the use of by-products inedible to man, and on the alkali treatment of straw to enable its inclusion in the diet in amounts up to 40% w i t h o u t reducing animal production. In terms of efficiency of beef production from the Community population of 31 million cows, the sex and age of the animal (eg. c o w v. heifer, bull v. steer) will have large effects. The reviews given at Theix on the sources of beef are summarised in Table I. A weighted mean of the 5.7 million t of b e e f for which data were provided (90% of the total produced in 1974) gives a valuable picture of the overall importance of each type of product. The percentages of total beef and veal which are derived respectively from cows, bulls, steers, heifers and veal calves are 33, 27, 17, 14 and 9%. The reasons for the wide variations a b o u t the average, which can be seen in the table and deduced from papers at the seminars, are also of interest. Above-average cow-beef production is associated with high milk yields and early culling of dairy cows (eg. Friesian herds in Denmark, 5140 kg and 2.5 lactations; in U.K. 4588 kg and 4.8 lactations -- Cunningham, 1976a); with high levels of veal production (eg. Netherlands, 33%; U.K. 1%); or with low numbers of suckler herds (eg. Netherlands nil; U.K. 34%). These findings have obvious implications in relation to carcass quality. The proportion of production from bulls is increasing and this category is the most important single source of b e e f other than cow-beef in the C o m m u n i t y -- a fact of importance in ensuring that research is c o n d u c t e d so as to give widespread applicability of the results within the Community. The seminar held in Denmark was on a specific subject of management -"The Early Calving of Heifers and its Impact on Beef Production". Surveys

309 TABLE I Sources of beef and veal produced from national herds in Community countries* As % total production Total production (lO00t)

Cows

Bulls

Steers

Heifers

Calves

Denmark Netherlands Italy

237 297 823

43 42 39

44 10 50

2 2 1

10 13 --

1 33 10

France Fed.Rep.Germany

1729 1300

35 30

14 49

21 2

12 14

18 5

Belgium United Kingdom

306 1000

29 26

34 0.2

10 47

18 26

9 0.7

Weighted mean

5692

33

27

17

14

9

*Data for 1974, except for the Netherlands, 1971/1974. No data included for Ireland (410,000t, F.A.O. 1975) or Luxembourg (13,000t). If Ireland were included with the same proportion as in the U.K., beef from steers in the E.E.C. would be 19%.

o f practice showed t h a t in m o s t of the C o m m u n i t y countries, the average age at calving is f r o m 28 to 36 m o n t h s in dairy herds and 32 t o 36 m o n t h s in b eef herds. Against this, research and advanced practice showed t h a t calving at 24 or even 18 m o n t h s of age is possible. T he influence of earlier calving in the dairy herd was described; b o t h milk and beef p r o d u c t i o n would be increased and the milk: beef ratio would n o t be m uch affected. The particular m a n a g e m e n t of the once-bred heifer, t o increase the n u m b e r o f calves for beef, was t h o r o u g h l y examined. Estimates of the increase in the annual calf crop or in beef p r o d u c t i o n ranged f r o m 17--20% in the U.K. and 24% in D e n m a r k t o 36% in Germany. F o r the U.K. it was calculated by Allen that a national herd structure including the once-bred heifer could p r o d u c e 25% mo r e cattle f or b e e f than a pure-bred dual-purpose herd b u t with the same level o f efficiency per kg slaughter weight. T he structure producing the once-bred heifer would be biologically m or e efficient than one with integrated dairy and suckler herds (respectively 4.2 kg SE [= starch equivalent ] and 7.0 kg SE per kg slaughter weight for the once-bred and the suckler-herd structures). Although the m e a t of calved heifers appeared t o be as acceptable t o a taste panel as t h a t f r o m maiden heifers (Joseph, Ireland) there was general agree-

310 ment that an adequate price for the meat is not always received and this is crucial to the expansion of the production system. A Dutch model showed that the income was greater from calved than from barren heifers, although less than from bulls. In the Netherlands and Italy (eg. Romita, 1975), systems where two calves are obtained before the dam is slaughtered were considered more promising. Endocrinological aspects of early calving and oestrus control were discussed, based on recent French, German and British research. Success in field trials in the control of ovulation was reported by both Lamming (U.K.) and Mauleon (France) with either repeated or single injections of prostaglandin followed by artificial insemination. Parturition was successfully induced by Gravert (Federal Republic of Germany) in heifers, 8--10 days before the expected date, by the injection of corticosteroids, and the problems of retained placentae could be overcome. Genetic aspects of selection for early calving were discussed and a comprehensive analysis was made of the factors affecting calving difficulty (Menissier, France). Pathology A seminar on "Perinatal Ill-Health in Calves" was held at the Institute for Research on Animal Diseases, Compton, United Kingdom. The opening survey showed that calf losses were about 10% in Belgium (to one year of age), 9.5% in France (to 3 months of age), 11.2% in the Netherlands, and 5.8% in calf-rearing systems on recorded farms in the U.K. Coli-bacillosis, viruses and dystocia were important causes of death and morbidity. Improved nutrition of the dam and early intake of colostrum by the calf would have big effects in reducing mortality. Coli-bacillosis, Salmonellosis and viruses were further discussed. It appeared that rapid post-mortem proliferation of bacteria causes over-diagnosis of E. coli infections (Smith, U.K.). Salmonellosis infections post-partum are spread via faeces, vaginal discharge or milk; significant spread occurs in groups of calves but not in those individually penned; and secretion usually ceases by 6--7 weeks of age (Osborne, U.K.). Reo-viruslike agents or rotaviruses have recently been found associated with outbreaks of calf diarrhoea (Woode, U.K.). Cross-infection is possible between calves, pigs, children and horses. Scherrer et al. {1975) considered viruses to be primary pathogens which increase the animals' vulnerability to bacterial infections. In both the U.K. and France, viruses were found in greater proportions in diarrhoeic faecal samples than in normal samples. Immunity and immune prophyllaxis against infection in the calf received considerable discussion. The immunological protection afforded by globulins in colostrum, and the role of different classes of antibodies were discussed. Normal suckling is the best of five methods of supply to the calf which had been tested (Fisher, U.K.). In calf hospital studies of diarrhoeic calves in

311 France, catabolism and dehydration were found to be more important than acid--base equilibrium, while in Germany prophylactic treatment of the dam was found to be effective since sulphonamides and penicillin can cross the placenta and protect the intra-uterine calf. French studies of gastro-intestinal motility showed relationships between motility and ill-health or abdominal pain. Non-infectious aspects were discussed, including endocrinology, nutrition and management, and finally economic effects. The possible influence of various management factors, including the use of cortico-steroids to induce calving, on the efficiency of absorption of antibodies, was reviewed, and genetic aspects of immunology were examined. The economic value of potential beef lost through calf mortality was estimated as £66m in the U.K. alone, and the impact of ill-health on the individual producer was documented. The effect on calf mortality of dystocia, with sires of high mature weight, was shown to be considerable, but this is to a large extent counterbalanced by the higher weight of surviving calves at weaning in beef herds.

Physiology of reproduction At Cambridge, United Kingdom, a seminar was held on "Egg Transfer in Cattle" (Chairman, Mr. L.E.A. Rowson). Papers from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, France and Canada dealt with the induction of superovulation, and both surgical and non-surgical transfer of embryos to the uterus. A French technique for recovering uterine eggs by transvaginal route was described, with which 20 embryos had been recovered out of 43 known ovulations in 12 cows. Non-surgical transfer was also described by Brand et al. (1976) and demonstrated by Brand (Netherlands). The freezing, culture and in vitro fertilization of eggs was examined. These papers provided further evidence of survival of early-stage cow embryos frozen and stored at the temperature of liquid nitrogen, and normal development following thawing and transfer to recipients. The value of storage procedures was discussed in relation to potential improvements in biological efficiency resulting from twinning, to genetic studies, exports and breed conservation. Non-surgical transfers were further reported to be successful in early dioestrus of recipients (5--6 days after ovulation), giving 9 pregnancies out of 28 when morulae and early blastocysts were used (Hahn, Federal Republic of Germany). The hormonal control of the oestrous cycle was described as an important element in egg transfer and the results of field trials with prostaglandin analogue and progestins were presented. There was considerable discussion on the number and timing of injections or implants required. This subject, raised briefly in the seminar in Denmark, was treated here in much greater depth and detail. Practical aspects of national livestock improvement and the cost of egg production were examined in relation to twinning by trans-cervical transfer

312 of a single egg into bred recipients and to the genetic and economic consequences of egg transplantation and twinning. In beef production this led to an 80% increase in the annual rate o f improvement of 400--day weight in a closed herd (Hill, U.K.).

Carcass and meat quality The most important final p r o d u c t of the whole process of beef production is the dressed carcass, and its tissue composition and meat quality are of great relevance in evaluation of beef production research. The seminar on this subject held in the Netherlands, at the Research Institute for Animal Husbandry, " S c h o o n o o r d " at Zeist {Chairman, It. H. de Boer) was concerned, therefore, with "Criteria and Methods for Assessment of Carcass and Meat Characteristics in Beef Production Experiments". The overall approach to carcass assessment must be to provide information of m a x i m u m value to the industry of meat production, processing and marketing. Serial slaughtering was considered an important technique which should be widely used. The cost of dissection should be considered in relation n o t merely to the value of the carcass b u t to the total cost of the experiment, of which it may only be 10% {Carroll, Ireland), and li.sts of suitable assessments were drawn up and discussed. In the live animal, the importance of recognising and reducing variations in contents of the digestive tract was stressed, and methods of making measurements on the live animal were critically assessed. Ultrasonic measurements, visual assessments, and in vivo dilution techniques were considered. In the slaughtered animal and the carcass, methods of standardisation of weighings were examined, and carcass classification by visual assessment and linear measurement were considered. The set of E.A.A.P. colour slides providing standards for the visual assessment of fat cover and fleshiness was demonstrated and universally recommended. Under the heading of assessment of carcass composition, the results of a survey of dissection methods were presented (Williams and Pomeroy, U.K.) and proposals were made for standardised methods of anatomical jointing (SchSn, 1976). Sample joint dissection and prediction procedures were discussed in several papers. The need to examine relationships of the part to the whole, rather than extrapolating sample joint relationships b e y o n d the applicable population of animals, was stressed, and the stability of different equations was examined in relation to cost of dissection. Specific gravity determinations to predict carcass composition were critically examined. Assessments of meat quality were considered, in terms of tenderness, colour, water-holding capacity, and taste panel techniques. The importance of standard methods of handling pre- and post-slaughter was agreed. Relationships between market value and the assessments made on carcasses were reviewed, as a vital link between research and practice. A most valuable o u t c o m e of this seminar was a set of outline recommen-

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dations for types of measurements suitable for application in beef production experiments, and recommendations for working parties on anatomical dissection and on meat quality assessments, to produce standard methods. NEEDS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH, AND THE COMMON RESEARCH PROGRAMME

At the conclusion of each seminar some consideration was given to the requirements for future research. To some extent these are already met by the c o m m o n programme for 1 9 7 6 / 1 9 7 8 , b u t from the seminar discussions there were also indications of n e w problems needing to be covered in future work. Genetics More data are required on the comparison of breeds for cross-breeding in both the dairy herd and in beef herds and on the scope for specialised lines of sires for terminal crossing. Comparisons of cross-breeding with breed synthesis were required. There was a plea for special consideration to be given to the problems of the Mediterranean area. Techniques of c o m p u t e r simulation and discount methods need further refinement in relation to their potential benefits to the C o m m u n i t y in the long-term process of genetic improvement. The use of control semen in experiments was recommended. The c o m m o n research projects are mostly on comparisons of paternal breeds for crossing on dairy cows; many of the projects are of factorial design with b o t h breed and different systems of feeding and management. Most of the dam breeds are Friesian, with four other dam breeds also represented. The paternal breeds are mostly those of large mature weight from France, Italy, Germany, Belgium and the U.K., with the early maturing Hereford and Aberdeen Angus also represented. Some projects on cross-bred suckler cows, ease of calving, and the relationship between milk and beef production are included. Nutrition and management It was considered that future research on nutritional aspects would need to be concerned with choice of crops and feeds to suit the types of animal available. In the feeding of concentrates with forage, further studies on substitution rates were required, and the reduction of the use of grain for beef production was debated as a research objective. Legumes would be important in reducing energy used as fertilizer. The application of additives such as formaldehyde to ensiled crops, the use of alkali to treat fibrous residues, and the utilization of excreta and by-products would all be important. I n relation to the topic of once-bred heifers, more research was considered to be required on the relationships between the level and pattern of fee-

314 ding, and reproduction and milk yield. The induction of calving and inhibition of first lactation until second calving required further study. Problems of retained placentae and hormone or antibiotic residues at slaughter should be further examined. A number of the c o m m o n projects are on the subject of once-bred heifers or twice-bred cows for meat production, and on genotype/nutrition interaction. Others are concerned with the effect on the carcass of age at slaughter and feeding level in bulls, late castration, and restricted nutrition. A survey is being made of the treatment of bulls in relation to "dark cutting" meat. Further projects are concerned with NPN and dried or ensiled forages as supplements to maize silage for y o u n g cattle; with anabolic agents; and with post-oestral flushing of cows.

Pathology The need for a group approach to some of the major problems, and for minimal disease procedures to be applied to calves, were subjects discussed at the seminar. Relationships between virus and bacterial infections, and the immunology of the host, were considered important. Questions of b o t h the o p t i m u m composition of the diet and the best environment for artificially reared calves needed further study, and the need for colostrum intake by the calf was fully discussed. In terms of minimal disease, m o v e m e n t of the calf between farms and through markets was a large factor in the spread of disease. It was agreed that survey work was essential in finding the problems which needed priority treatment. The application of research to practice remained one o f the most vital areas in which real advances could be made. The projects in the c o m m o n research programme cover bacterial and virus infections, resistance of bacteria to sulphonamide drugs, therapeutics and prophyllaxy, respiratory disease and the "downer-calf" syndrome.

Physiology of reproduction Outstanding problems needing further research were fully discussed. Proposals were for further work on the supply, storage and non-surgical transfer of eggs. I m p o r t a n t in this respect were greater knowledge of the composition of PMS and its standardisation, the sites of production of hormones, and receptors, and the response of different breeds or the effect of stages of the ovarian cycle. Synchronisation and the effect of nutrition, and the application of egg transfer techniques to research on fertilization, embryonic mortality and foetal physiology were also subjects for future study. The c o m m o n research programme contains a number of projects on nonsurgical transfer of eggs. Further studies are on mild superovulation and practical methods of control of the oestrus cycle in cattle; on the time o f insemination and the assay of progesterone in milk; and on the effects of breed and environment. Other projects are concerned with the production, collection, culture and storage of eggs and the in vitro culture of follicles.

315

Carcass and meat quality The participants at the seminar proposed that further research is required on ultrasonic measurement and suitable instruments for its application. Comparisons are needed between breeds on various feeding regimes to study meat: bone ratio and its relationship with conformation. The value of thickness of muscle in relation to the retailer and consumer needed to be clarified. With regard to meat quality, the effect of methods of preparation of the animal and carcass on tenderness should be studied. Colour of meat needed further research. An important area of work is the relationship b e t w e e n studies of meat characteristics and the consumer acceptability of the meat. Projects in the c o m m o n research programme are concerned with a survey of practice in the handling of bulls for beef in Europe; the slaughter value of different breeds of bull and the effect of stress on meat quality of bulls; the composition and yield of carcasses in relation to classification; and the effects of cooking, chilling and packaging on meat quality, together with a review of meat quality measurements. CONCLUSIONS

The series of seminars in the beef co-ordination programme for 1 9 7 5 / 1 9 7 6 , with over 200 papers and discussion sessions, has given an overall view of b e e f production and certain areas of beef research in the Community. The animal and land resources available have been delineated in general terms and some priorities for future research have emerged. The high proportion of the Friesian breed in the Community gives a degree of apparent uniformity to the population, b u t differences between strains, within and from outside the Community, could be of some significance. The potential impact of the North American Holstein in a dual-purpose population for which it was n o t selected is clearly a research topic of some importance. Evaluation of breeds as terminal sires is a major task for which there is a wealth of genetic material available. The greater efficiency of production of energy (Holmes, 1970) as milk + beef from a dairy herd (11%) than from a single suckler herd (4.5%) suggests that the Community pattern of production is well directed, b u t more quantification is needed. The impact on milk and beef production of different numbers of lactations in the dairy herd should be more closely examined. Techniques capable of changing the milk: beef ratio, such as once-bred heifer or bull-beef production should be studied n o t only in terms of efficiency b u t in relation to the quality of meat. Meat quality in culled cows of different ages may need more attention since these are the largest single source of C o m m u n i t y b e e f production. Grass, maize, legumes and r o o t crops are all important sources of feed for beef production, whose potential to replace expensive cereals and protein supplements in the diet should b e e x p l o r e d to the full. The scope for improve-

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ment is still much greater with conserved forage than with the fresh feed. The potential in beef production for the utilization of wastes and by-products (e.g. from leaf protein extraction) which are edible only to ruminants should be fully explored. The many possible interactions between animal types (breed, age, sex) and diets must be evaluated with the aim of fitting animals and feeds together with maximum efficiency in profitable systems of production. The potential for such systems is continually being improved by new findings in nutrition, physiology and pathology. Close integration of the more basic with the more applied aspects of experimentation is of importance to the continued achievements in research which are so valuable to the agricultural industry in the Community.

REFERENCES Andersen, B. Bech and Liboriussen, T. 1976. Danish crossbreeding experiments with beef breeds on dairy and dual purpose breeds. In: I.L. Mason (Editor), Crossbreeding Experiments and Strategy of Breed Utilization to Increase Beef Production. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg. (In press) Baker, H.K., 1976. Beef breeds for beef herds in the United Kingdom. In: P. McGloughlin (Editor), Optimisation of Cattle Breeding Schemes. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg, pp. 173--182. Brand, A. Taverne, M.A.M., van der Weyden, G.C., Aarts, M.H., Dieleman, S.J., Fontijne, P., Drost, M. and de Bois, C.H.W., 1976. Non-surgical e m b r y o transfer in cattle. Myometrical activity as a possible cause of e m b r y o expulsion. In: L.E.A. Rowson (Editor), Egg Transfer in Cattle. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg, pp. 41--56. Cunningham, E.P., 1976a. The structure of the cattle populations in the E.E.C. In: P. McGloughlin (Editor), Optimisation of Cattle Breeding Schemes. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg, pp. 13--27. Cunningham, E.P., 1976b. Crossbreeding practices in the European Economic Community. In: I.L. Mason (Editor), Cross-breeding Experiments and Strategy of Breed Utilisation to Increase Beef Production. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg. (In press) Food and Agriculture Organization, 1975. Production Yearbook 1974, 28--1:225. F.A.O., U.N., Rome. Hanset, R., Ansay, M. and Jandraim, M., 1976. Morphology of the double-muscled c a l f - discrimination between the double-muscled and the normal. In: I.L. Mason (Editor), Cross-breeding Experiments and Strategy of Breed Utilisation to Increase Beef Production. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg. (In press) Harrington, G., 1976. Relationships between market value, dissection data, carcass classification and meat characteristics. In: A.V. Fisher, J.C. Tayler, H. de Boer and D.H. van Adrichem Boogaert (Editors), Criteria and Methods for Assessment of Carcass and Meat Characteristics in Beef Production Experiments. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg, pp. 361--377. Holmes, W., 1970. Animals for food. Proc. Nutr. Soc., 29: 237--244. Romita, A., 1975. Research results from Italy. In: J.C. Tayler (Editor), The Early Calving of Heifers and its Impact on Beef Production. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg, pp. 191--204.

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Scherrer, R., Cohen, J., L'Hariden, R. and Feynerol, C., 1975. A reovirus-like agent associated with neonatal calf gastroenteritis in France. In: J.M. Rutter (Editor), Perinatal Ill-Health in Calves. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg, pp. 72--76. SchSn, I., 1976. Wholesale and retail jointing, techniques and standardisation for experimental purposes. In: A.V. Fisher, J.C. Tayler, H. de Boer, and D.H. van Adrichem Boogaert (Editors), Criteria and Methods for Assessment of Carcass and Meat Characteristics in Beef Production Experiments. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg, pp. 171--178. Skovgaard, I., 1975. Institutional possibilities for improving co-operation in European animal production science. Livest. Prod. Sci., 2: 79--86. Tayler, J.C., 1976. The co-ordination of agricultural research by the Commission of the European Communities. Annual Report 1975, The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, pp. 133--136. Wilkins, R.J., 1976. The potential for increased use of ensiled crops for animal production with particular reference to support energy inputs. In: J.C. Tayler and J.M. Wilkinson (Editors), Improving the Nutritional Efficiency of Beef production. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg. (In press) RESUME Tayler, J.C., 1976. Production de viande bovine dans la C.E.E. et coordination des recherches par la Commission des Communaut~s Europ~ennes. Livest. Prod. Sci., 3 : 3 0 5 - - 3 1 8 (en anglais). La production de viande bovine re¢oit environ 40 p.100 du budget du p r o g r a m m e c o m m u n de recherches de la C o m m u n a u t ~ E c o n o m i q u e Europ~enne d'une dur~e de trois ans, dont le financement a ~t~ accord~ en 1975. E n outre, il a ~t~ r~alis~ en 1975/1976 un p r o g r a m m e complet de coordination, consistant en sept s~minaires sur certains aspects de la recherche sur la production de viande bovine, en relation avec le p r o g r a m m e c o m m u n . Les r~sultats d'environ 200 rapports, et les discussions tenues au cours des sessions fournissent une rue d'ensemble de la production de viande bovine dans la C o m m u n a u t ~ , quant la g~n~tique, l'alimentation et le m~nagement, et sur quelques-unes des recherches en cours. O n a examin~ de nombreuses possibilit~sd'augmenter la production ou d'am~liorer le rendement de la transformation des aliments en viande, l] a ~galement ~t~ pr~sent~ une vue d'ensemble sur les races et les aliments utilis~s;on a aussi ~tudi~ la question du croisement et pass~ en revue les recherches sur la nutrition. O n a discut~ des m o y e n s d'augmenter le n o m b r e de veaux pour la production de viande bovine, grace ~ la transplantation des oeufs, ~ la diminution de la morbidit~ p~rinatale et au v~lage pr~coce des g~nisses. II apparaR possible d'utiliserplus efficacement les m o y e n s en animaux et en surfaces pour la production du lairet de viande grace ~[un meilleur emploi des 80 millions de bovins de la C o m m u n a u t ~ , de ses cultures et sous-produits. Les besoins en recherches futures et le p r o g r a m m e c o m m u n des recherches sont expos~.s bri~vement.

KURZFASSUNG Tayler, J.C., 1976. Rindfleischproduktion in der E W G und Koordinierung der Forschung dutch die K o m m i s s i o n der Europ~fischen Gemeinschaften. Livest. Prod. Sci., 3: 305-318 (in Englisch).

Die Rindfleischproduktion nimmt ungef~hr 40% des Haushalts f'dr das dreij~hrige aUgemeine Forschungsprogramm in der Europ~ischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft ein, welcher im Jahre 1975 zur Investitution durch die Kommission aufgestellt wurde. Zus~tzlich

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wurde eine Koordinierungsprogramm von sieben Seminaren im Zeitraum 1975/1976 iiber Aspekte der Forschung auf d e m Gebiet der Rindfleischerzeugung durchgef*dhrt, das zu d e m allgemeinen Programm in enger Beziehung steht. Die Ergebnisse yon etwa 200 Beitr~gen und Diskussionssitzungen liefern eine Zusammenfassung der Aspekte der Genetik, clerErn~rung und des Managements im R a h m e n der Rindfleischerzeugung in der Gemeinschaft sowie einige Ergebnisse der laufenden Forschungsarbeiten. Es wurden viele MSglichkeiten zur Steigerung der Produktion bzw. zur Erh~hung der Effizienz der U m wandlung yon Futter in Rindfleisch untersucht. Weiterhin wurde eine I~bersichtfiber Rassen und Futtermittel angefertigt. Es wurden die MSglichkeiten der Kreuzung analysiert. Darilber hinaus wurde die Forschung auf d e m Gebiet der Ern~hrung einer PrUfung unterzogen. Ausserdem wurden Verfahren zur ErhShung der f'drdie Rindfleischproduktion verfilgbaren I¢~'Iberdutch Eitransplantation, durch Verminderung perinataler Gesund heitsst~rungen sowie durch frUhes Abkalben der F~rsen diskutiert. Es wurde versucht, die Reserven an Tieren und landwirtschaftlicher Nutzfl~iche effizienterfiirdie Milch- und Rindfleischproduktion zu nutzen. Dies kSnnte durch eine effektivere Verwendung der 80 Millionen Rinder der Gemeinschaft sowie ihrer landwirtschaftlichen Produkte und ihrer Nebenerzeugnisse geschehen. Es wird kurz auf die Notwendigkeit eingegangen, auch zukUnftig Forschung zu betreiben sowie das allgerneine Forschungsprogramm durchzuf'dhren.