?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Welfare%2C+health+and+product+quality+in+organic+beef+production+-+a+Danish+perspective&rft.creator=Nielsen%2C+B.&rft.creator=Thamsborg%2C+S.M.&rft.subject=+Health+and+welfare&rft.description=Organic+beef+production+in+Europe+is+based+on+grazing+in+the+summertime+and+feeding+of+minimum+60%25+of+roughage+during+the+whole+year.+Although+these+recommendations+were+intended+to+improve+health+and+welfare+several+aspects+may+cause+problems+in+organic+beef+production+systems.+This+paper+gives+an+overview+of+welfare%2C+health+and+product+quality+in+organic+beef+production+with+emphasis+on+organic+steer+production+based+on+dairy+breed+bull+calves.+A+short+overview+of+different+production+systems+is+given+with+emphasis+on+the+effect+on+health%2C+and+welfare.+Feeding+aspects+are+discussed.+Farm+studies+have+shown+that+organic+steer+production+is+based+on+high+amounts+of+roughages%2C+and+only+small+amounts+of+cereals+are+used+compared+to+a+conventional+production+of+bulls+and+calves.+Fattening+of+organic+steers+may+result+in+metabolic+disorders+due+to+sudden+changes+in+the+feed+ration+when+changing+from+high+roughage+to+high+cereal+content.+The+various+problems+related+to+the+production+system+are+discussed.+Farm+studies+indicate+a+good+general+health+and+welfare+in+organic+steer+production+system+based+on+subjective+monthly+observations.+On+pasture%2C+parasite+infections+may+be+the+primary+factor+affections+health+and+productivity+in+organic+beef+production.+Rearing+of+the+young+calves+and+utilization+of+marginal+grazing+areas+are+two+major+fields%2C+which+requires+further+attention.+The+effect+of+castration+on+health+and+welfare+and+the+effect+of+castration+age+and+method+are+discussed.++Product+quality+of+organic+beef+is+affected+by+the+production+system%2C+especially+sex%2C+grazing+and+exercise.+Grazing+and+exercise+that+are+inevitable+components+of+the+organic+beef+production+system+may+affect+the+eating+quality+of+organic+beef+due+to+darker+meat+color%2C+risk+of+off-flavor%2C+yellow+fat%2C+and+a+higher+content+of+unsaturated+fatty+acids+including+CLA.+The+general+effect+on+sensory+attributes+might+be+of+minor+importance.+Feeding+high+amounts+of+roughage+with+contents+of+bioactive+forages+may+be+one+of+the+means+of+improving+product+quality+in+the+future.+&rft.date=2005&rft.type=Journal+paper&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F4521%2F1%2F4521.pdf&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F4521%2F2%2FFigure_EAAP.pdf&rft.identifier=Nielsen%2C+B.+and+Thamsborg%2C+S.M.+(2005)+Welfare%2C+health+and+product+quality+in+organic+beef+production+-+a+Danish+perspective.+Livestock+Production+Science.+[+In+Press+%2C+2005]&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F4521%2F