The beef sector remains one of the most sensitive to cost fluctuations, and farm performance is increasingly linked to technical conversion indicators. Aggregate evaluations at the European level show that farms with optimized feeding systems achieve an average daily gain (ADG) of 1,150–1,300 g/day, while traditional operations range between 850 and 1,000 g/day. This difference is reflected directly in the length of the fattening cycle, where high-performance farms reduce the finishing period by up to 45 days, lowering feed costs by approximately 10–14%.

In Romania, aggregated technical data show pronounced heterogeneity: semi-intensive systems generate results close to the EU average, whereas extensive farms, dependent on pastures with variable productivity, have a lower ADG. Feed composition plays a key role: rations with high levels of digestible energy and bypass proteins improve conversion by 6–9%, and the use of high-quality corn silage can increase young cattle performance by up to 12%.

On the European market, carcass prices remained relatively stable in 2024, at around 5.0 euros/kg, while Romania positions itself slightly below the EU average but with a trend toward alignment. For 2025, competitive differentiation will depend on farms’ ability to reduce technological losses and standardize feeding plans, in the context of a market with steady demand, especially in the HoReCa and premium retail segments.

(Photo: Freepik)