Economical profitability of pasture-based beef production is necessary for continued maintenance of semi-natural pastures. In a situation of decreased cattle stocks, there is a potential to castrate male calves from dairy cows and raise them as grazing steers instead of intact bulls reared indoors, which is the common way in the Nordic countries. We examined the profitability in model enterprises with either grazing steers or indoor bulls. Within the two genders (steer and bull), there were animals of two breed types (pure dairy breed and dairy × beef crossbreed), which were divided into an intensive or extensive production system. The intensive steer system had one summer on grass and slaughter at 21 months of age whereas the extensive steer system had two summers on grass and slaughter at 28 months of age. All bulls were reared indoors and slaughtered at 15 or 18 months of age. The profitability was calculated as contribution margin (CM; Σ revenues – Σ variable costs) in three different herd sizes (50, 100 and 150 slaughtered animals per year) and in three different regions in Sweden (the southern forest districts Gsk, the southern plain districts Gns, and the lower parts of the northern Nn). In the basic calculation, CM for all steers in large herds with 150 slaughtered animals per year was above zero for all cases in Gns, and for one case in Nn and in Gsk respectively. However, all steer cases had lower CM than the comparable bull system in the basic calculation. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate several possible ways of increasing the competitiveness of the grazing steers, compared to the bulls. Utilization of buildings without opportunity cost resulted in a CM above zero for all cases. Increasing the proportion of semi-natural pastures rendering high agri-environmental payment and support was another effective mean. Decreasing the winter feed cost and labour demand on pasture reduced the costs, whereas producing premium-price certified pasture beef increased the revenue, all measures further contributing to an improved profitability. Pasture-based beef production from dairy-born steers can be economically viable, especially in large herds and with extensive production systems. Thereby, we conclude this system to has a potential to graze large areas of semi-natural pastures and thereby conserve their biodiversity and cultural values.

牧场牛肉生产的经济收益对于持续维护半天然牧场是必要的。在牲畜存量减少的情况下，有可能从奶牛中male割公牛犊，并在放牧ste牛时将其饲养，而不是在室内饲养完整的公牛，这在北欧国家很普遍。我们研究了放牧ste牛或室内公牛的示范企业的盈利能力。在这两种性别（公牛和公牛）中，有两种品种的动物（纯乳品和乳品×牛肉杂交），分为集约化生产或粗放化生产系统。密集的ste牛系统在21个月大时在草地和屠宰上有一个夏天，而广泛的er牛系统在28个月大时在草地和屠宰上有两个夏天。所有公牛都在室内饲养，并在15或18个月大时被宰杀。利润率以三种不同畜群规模（每年50、100和150只屠宰动物）和瑞典三个不同地区（南部森林区Gsk，南部平原）的边际贡献率（CM；Σ收入–Σ可变成本）计算。地区Gns和北部Nn的下部）。在基本计算中，在Gns中，每年有150只被宰杀动物的大公牛群中所有公牛的CM均高于零，在Nn和Gsk中分别为1例。但是，在基本计算中，所有ste牛病例的CM均低于可比的公牛系统。敏感性分析表明，与公牛相比，提高放牧公牛竞争力的几种可能方法。在没有机会成本的情况下使用建筑物会导致所有情况下的CM均大于零。另一种有效的手段是增加半天然草场的比例，从而提高农业环境的支付和支持水平。冬季饲料成本的降低和牧场劳动力的需求降低了成本，而生产优质价格认证的牧场牛肉则增加了收入，所有这些措施进一步提高了盈利能力。从奶牛场生产的牧场中以牧场为基础的牛肉生产在经济上是可行的，特别是在大型畜群中，并具有广泛的生产系统。因此，我们认为该系统具有在大面积的半天然草场上放牧的潜力，从而可以保护它们的生物多样性和文化价值。另一种有效的手段是增加半天然草场的比例，从而提高农业环境的支付和支持水平。冬季饲料成本的降低和牧场劳动力的需求降低了成本，而生产优质价格认证的牧场牛肉则增加了收入，所有这些措施进一步提高了盈利能力。从奶牛场生产的牧场中以牧场为基础的牛肉生产在经济上是可行的，特别是在大型畜群和广泛的生产系统中。因此，我们认为该系统具有在大面积的半天然草场上放牧的潜力，从而可以保护它们的生物多样性和文化价值。另一种有效的手段是增加半天然草场的比例，从而提高农业环境的支付和支持水平。冬季饲料成本的降低和牧场劳动力的需求降低了成本，而生产优质价格认证的牧场牛肉则增加了收入，所有这些措施进一步提高了盈利能力。从奶牛场生产的牧场中以牧场为基础的牛肉生产在经济上是可行的，特别是在大型畜群和广泛的生产系统中。因此，我们认为该系统具有在大面积的半天然草场上放牧的潜力，从而可以保护它们的生物多样性和文化价值。生产高价认证的牧场牛肉增加了收入，所有措施进一步提高了盈利能力。从奶牛场生产的牧场中以牧场为基础的牛肉生产在经济上是可行的，特别是在大型畜群和广泛的生产系统中。因此，我们认为该系统具有在大面积的半天然草场上放牧的潜力，从而可以保护它们的生物多样性和文化价值。生产高价认证的牧场牛肉增加了收入，所有措施进一步提高了盈利能力。从奶牛场生产的牧场中以牧场为基础的牛肉生产在经济上是可行的，特别是在大型畜群中，并具有广泛的生产系统。因此，我们认为该系统具有在大面积的半天然草场上放牧的潜力，从而可以保护它们的生物多样性和文化价值。