Parity-associated changes in slaughter weight and carcass characteristics of 3⁄4 Charolais crossbred cows kept on a lowland grass/grass silage feeding and management system

2002 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Patterson ◽  
C. A. Moore ◽  
B. W. Moss ◽  
D. J. Kilpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Maximum Output ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Individual Animal ◽  
The Third ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Parity Number

AbstractA total of 77 heifers (3⁄4 Charolais crossbred) completed a study which examined the effects of parity number on growth, changes in size of the carcass, carcass composition and meat quality. The experiment had a factorial design based on the factors: parity and level of finish. The parities were: 0 (maiden), 1, 3 and 5. At each parity animals were slaughtered at medium (EU fat class 3) and high (EU fat class 4H) levels of finish. All data were analysed by analysis of variance using individual animal observations, and linear, quadratic and asymptotic trends were explored. Where appropriate, regression equations were derived using individual animal values to describe the relationships between key parameters and the parity status of the finished animal. Animals calved at turn-out to grass in spring (April/May) and the cows were housed at weaning in mid October (mean lactation length of 163 days) and all pregnant animals were given a diet of grass silage without concentrate supplementation during the winter period. The medium level of finish animals were slaughtered 24 days after commencement of the breeding programme for parity 0 or at the end of lactation for the remaining parities, except for parity 1 animals which had a short finishing period. For the high level of finish treatment, parity 0 heifers had a longer finishing period, while all bred animals had a post-weaning finishing period. The high finish animals were finished on a diet of grass silage and concentrates. Birth weights of calves increased until the fourth parity, while weaning weights increased linearly until the fifth parity. Mean daily milk yield increased until the third lactation. Live weight, carcass weight and weights of saleable beef, separable lean and separable fat all followed asymptotic patterns of rapid initial increase and then tended to plateau with increase in parity. The asymptote values for live weight and carcass weight were 723·0 and 383·2 kg respectively. Statistically significant asymptotic relationships with parity number were obtained for live weight and various tissue weights. Nominal mature weight was assumed to be 0·99 of the asymptote and nominal mature weights for live weight, carcass weight, saleable beef, separable lean and separable fat were attained at parity (age, years) 4/5 (6·1), 3/4 (5·3), 4/5 (6·2), 3/4 (4·7) and 1/2 (2·7) respectively. The proportion of high-priced joints declined with increase in parity (linear trend P 0·01) thus indicating a reduction in relative growth of the main muscle groups of the hind limb. Shear value measurements on cooked muscle from the maiden and first parity animals indicated very tender meat, but tenderness declined with increase in parity (asymptotic trend P 0·001). Taking animals to the higher level of finish effected increases in carcass weight and separable fat in the carcass of 55·1 kg (P 0·001) and 72 g/kg (P 0·001) respectively, while separable lean declined by 53 g/kg (P 0·001). Cooked muscle from the high finish animals was less tender than from the medium finish animals (P 0·05). It was concluded that slaughtering cows at the third parity would enable a self replacing closed herd to be operated, while obtaining 0·97 of the potential maximum output of saleable beef from the cow, but there may be some compromise in the tenderness of the meat for some consumers by the third parity.

An evaluation of beef carcass quality 2. Influence of variation in grazing intensity and the level of barley supplementation with silage on the carcass and meat quality of Friesian steers

1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-237
Author(s):  
C. E. Hinks ◽  
J. H. D. Prescott
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Compensatory Growth ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Carcass Quality

SUMMARYTwo experiments concerning the effects, on the carcass and meat characteristics of 18-months-old Friesian steers, of variation in grazing intensity and the level of barley feeding with silage are reported.Groups of 12 steers were grazed at different intensities over 5-month grazing periods, such that live-weight differences of 38 kg and 16 kg were recorded at housing. No compensatory growth was recorded during the subsequent winter feeding period.Whilst the grazing treatments had little effect on carcass or meat quality, higher levels of barley feeding with silage over the winter period (710 v. 410 kg/steer) had significant effects on live-weight gain, and increased carcass weight by 21 kg at slaughter. The higher yield of carcass weight was reflected in significant differences in carcass composition, joint proportions and retail cut-out value. Sixty per cent of the carcass weight difference was removed as trim fat. Differences in carcass fatness were not associated with any differences in eating quality.

A comparison of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for finishing beef cattle

1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Crude Fibre ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Soya Bean Meal ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle

AbstractTwo randomized-block experiments were carried out to examine the relative value of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for finishing beef cattle. In each experiment unwilted, formic acid-treated silage was offered ad libitum and supplemented with 500 g soya-bean meal and 50 g minerals and vitamins to 44 12-month-old bulls for 157 and 172 days in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. Twelve of the animals also received 2·5 kg rolled spring barley (LB), 12 received 4·0 kg barley (HB) and 20 received 3·25 kg rolled wheat (W). For experiments 1 and 2 respectively the barley contained 796 and 787 g dry matter (DM) per kg; 118 and 105 g crude protein (CP) per kg DM; 47 and 57 g crude fibre per kg DM; the wheat contained 845 and 800 g DM per kg; 112 and 116 g CP per kg DM; 23 and 25 g crude fibre per kg DM; and the silages contained 190 and 177 g DM per kg; 153 and 176 g CP per kg DM; 80 and 104 g ammonia-nitrogen per kg total nitrogen. On average over the two experiments, for treatments LB, HB and W respectively, silage DM intakes were 5·4, 4·7 (s.e. 0·14) and 4·9 (s.e. 0·11) kg/day; total DM intakes 7·9, 8·3 (s.e. 0·14) and 8·1 (s.e. 0·11) kg/day; metabolizable energy intakes 91·4, 97·8 and 94·2 MJ/day; live-weight gains 1·04,1·19 (s.e. 0·029) and 1·10 (s.e. 0·023) kg/day and carcass gams 0·65, 0·77 (s.e. 0·017) and 0·70 (s.e. 0·013) kg/day. It is concluded that the feeding value of wheat was proportionately 0·98 of that of barley for finishing beef cattle when given as a supplement to grass silage, and that the type of cereal offered did not affect silage intake or carcass composition.

Effects of growth pathway on beef quality in 18-month-old Angus and South Devon ✕ Angus pasture-fed steers

2001 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.D. Muir ◽  
N.B. Smith ◽  
P.M. Dobbie ◽  
D.R. Smith ◽  
M.D. Bown
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Compensatory Growth ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Considerable Effect ◽  
Growth Restriction ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Meat Tenderness ◽  
Beef Quality ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractThere is evidence that, in cattle, rapid compensatory growth after a period of growth restriction may increase the variability of beef quality and that variability is greater in breeds which reach larger body size at maturity. This experiment investigated the effect of compensatory growth following a period of winter growth restriction on carcass quality in steers of small and large mature size grazed on pasture. Angus (no. = 120) and South Devon ✕ Angus (SD✕ A; no. = 110) steers were allocated to non-restricted or restricted growth treatment groups and for 126 days over winter their grazing was managed to achieve mean live-weight gains of approximately 0·7 kg/day or to maintain live weight for each group respectively. Steers were slaughtered at the start (no. = 10 per breed) and end (no. = 20 per nutrition group (10 from each breed)) of the winter period for carcass evaluation. Thereafter, remaining steers were grazed together at a high pasture allowance to maximize growth and were slaughtered for carcass evaluation as they reached target live weights (Angus, 590 kg; SD✕ A, 620 kg). SD✕ A steers grew faster (P< 0·05) during both the winter and finishing periods and reached target slaughter live weights approximately 20 days earlier than Angus steers. SD✕ A steers also had leaner carcasses than Angus steers at each slaughter although there was no significant difference in meat quality between breeds. However, there was a significant effect of restriction treatment on carcass weight and meat quality. The non-restricted steers grew faster, had heavier carcasses and more tender steaks than restricted steers, although there was no significant difference in carcass fatness (adjusted for hot carcass weight). Muscle calpain activities were positively correlated with live-weight gain during the finishing period suggesting increased potential for post-mortem myofibrillar proteolysis and therefore increased meat tenderness. However, in the present experiment this was confounded by an increase in shear force with age-at-slaughter, especially in the non-restricted steers. Nevertheless, steers which were heaviest at the start of the experiment reached slaughter live weight earliest, were leaner than average and had higher calpain system activities at slaughter regardless of breed or restriction treatment. Furthermore, in the non-restricted group, high initial live weight and early slaughter was associated with lower pH and more tender meat. In conclusion, although restriction affected meat quality attributes, it appears that live weight prior to food restriction also had a considerable effect on carcass characteristics at slaughter. Therefore, the characteristics of the early growth phase prior to the finishing period may have important consequences for meat quality.

Carcass composition and tissue weight distribution in purebred lambs from six breeds

1984 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 103-103
Author(s):  
A. J. Brown ◽  
B. W. Butler-Hogg ◽  
J. D. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Weight Distribution ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Carcass Quality ◽  
Quality Changes ◽  
Tissue Weight ◽  
Mature Size

Future improvements in British lamb sales depend on increasing the lean to fat ratio in cuts and joints offered for sale, since numerous surveys have shown an aversion to fat on the part of consumers. This ratio can be changed by manipulating breed and live weight at slaughter, since breeds of large mature size slaughtered at light weights are considerably leaner than those of small mature size slaughtered at heavy weights. However, there are other aspects of carcass value than overall lean and fat content. These include factors such as the proportions of individual joints and their composition. This study was carried out to examine carcass composition and carcass quality changes between 12 and 24 kg cold carcass weight (CCW) in 317 castrated males and 238 females from six pure breeds.

Corrigendum - Comparative breed studies of beef cattle. III. Carcass composition

1964 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 333
Author(s):  
NM Tulloh
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Comparison Study ◽  
Differential Growth ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Breed Comparison

An investigation was made of published data on the carcass composition of cattle, based on dissection of carcasses into bone, muscle, and fat. The data included females and castrate males, without regard to breed, age, or nutritional history. It was found that the relation between each carcass component and empty body weight could be described by a linear regression equation by using logarithmic values for the variables. The differential growth ratios given by the regression equations indicated, as empty body weight increased, that: (a) the weight of each of the dissected carcass components (i.e. bone, muscle, and fat) also increased; (b) the proportion of carcass bone fell, that of fat increased, and that of muscle remained almost constant. The relations between dissected bone, muscle, and fat and carcass weight were similar to those obtained between dissected carcass components and empty body weight. To obtain evidence on whether the differential growth ratios between dissected carcass components and empty body weight or carcass weight showed any change throughout post-natal life, quadratic equations were computed by using logarithmic values for the variables. These ratios fell for all carcass components, but in only three out of six equations were the quadratic terms statistically significant. This re-examination of published data indicates that any comparisons of the carcass composition of cattle may be invalid unless they are made at the same body (or carcass) weights. In addition, a comparison made by using regression equations, with the variables expressed as percentages, is confusing because it may not reveal abnormal composition in animals of particular weights. A satisfactory type of analysis can be made by using regression techniques with the original data. The above principles of analysis were applied in a breed comparison study of the carcass composition of 28 Hereford, 25 Angus, and 18 Shorthorn steers. These cattle comprised two age groups, born in 1957 and 1958 respectively. Carcass composition was estimated by dissecting, into bone, muscle and fat, the left and right 11th ribcuts from the carcasses of the 1957 steers, and the 9th–10th–11th rib-cuts from the left sides of the carcasses of the 1958 steers. When the rib-cut data were plotted, the relations appeared linear; the data were therefore analysed by using linear regressions with arithmetical values for the variables. Results showed that the fat content was greater and the muscle content smaller in the rib-cuts of the Shorthorns in both years than in those of either Hereford or Angus steers. Differences between Herefords and Angus were small. In view of the high correlations found by other workers between the results of rib-cut dissections and carcass composition, it is assumed that the breed differences reported here in rib-cut composition were reflections of breed differences in carcass composition. The carcass compositions of the cattle used in the breed comparison study were also estimated from hot carcass weight by using regression equations derived from the literature. A comparison of the two methods of estimating carcass composition suggests that, if hot carcass weight is to be used, regression equations will need to be developed for each breed in various environments.

Effect of parity number on growth pattern and carcass measurements of continental cross suckler cows under lowland conditions

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 52-52
Author(s):  
D.C. Patterson ◽  
C.A. Moore ◽  
R.W.J. Steen ◽  
D.J. Kilpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Factorial Design ◽  
Growth Pattern ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Lactation Length ◽  
Parity Number ◽  
Medium Level

The objective was to examine the effects of parity of cows at slaughter on the growth and development of the carcass, and changes in carcass composition in continental suckler cows in a lowland beef system.The experiment had a factorial design based on the factors : parity and level of finish. The parity treatments were parities: 0 (maiden), 1, 3 and 5. The levels of finish were medium (fat class 3) and high (fat class 4 L). A group of three Blonde d’Aquitaine AI sires was common to parities 1, 3 and 5. Mean lactation length was 163 days which was spent at pasture. Animals for the medium level of finish were slaughtered at the point of service (maiden heifers) or at weaning (parities 1, 3 and 5), while high finish animals all had an additional finishing period on a grass silage/concentrate diet. A total of 77 animals of ¾ Charolais genotype were slaughtered within the experimental design with approximately equal numbers of animals slaughtered within each treatment.

Nitrogen response and stocking rate of Pennisetum clandestinum pastures: II. Cattle growth

1974 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. T. Mears ◽  
L. R. Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Maximum Output ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Nitrogen Response ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Pennisetum Clandestinum

SummaryIndividual live-weight gain (LWG) of Angus weaner cattle continuously grazing (Pennisetum clandestinum) pasture was negatively and linearly related to stocking rate (SR) and independent of ammonium nitrate (N) application rate at similar grazing pressures.Live-weight gain varied from 380 to 1056 kg/ha according to N rate in 1970–1 and from 637 to 1477 kg/ha in 1971–2. Calculated SR giving maximum LWG/ha was 3·4, 4·7, 7·6 and 9·8 animals/ha for the 0, 134, 336 and 672kg N/ha treatments respectively in 1970–1 and 6·1, 5·7, 9·1 and 10·6 animals/ha for the same treatments in 1971–2. Highest response to applied N (1·9 and 3·4 kg LWG/kg additional N in successive years) occurred between N131 and N336; response was greater at low and intermediate SR than at high SR. Carcass weight, quality score, depth of subcutaneous fat and area of eye muscle were negatively related to SR; SR's giving maximum output per unit area caused a reduction of ca.25% in production per head and adversely affected carcass quality at 18 months of age.LWG/head was independent of feed availability in spring and summer and was positively related to availability of green kikuyu up to 600 kg D.M./head in the autumn/winter period.

Effects of three different growth rates on empty body weight, carcass weight and dissected carcass composition of cattle

1974 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Murray ◽  
N. M. Tulloh ◽  
W. H. Winter
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Allometric Equation ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
General Group ◽  
Relative Growth

SUMMARYA study was made of the effect on body composition of growing Angus steers from 300 to 440 kg at three different rates. The rates were: High (H) 0·8 kg/day, Low (L) 0·4 kg/day and High-Maintenance (HM) 0·8 kg/day followed by a period during which body weight was maintained constant.The animals were individually penned and the different growth rates were achieved by controlling intakes of a pelleted feed. Two animals (part of H treatment) were killed at 300 kg and the remaining 27 animals (nine in each treatment), were killed at common body weights of 330, 363, 400 and 440 kg.Analyses of covariance were used to compare linear regression equations representing results from each treatment. In order to do this, the logarithmic transformation of the allometric equation, y = axb, was used. As a proportion of empty body weight (EBW), hot carcass weight (HCW) was greater in both the HM and L groups than in the H group, indicating a greater offal component of EBW in the H animals. The loss in weight of the dressed carcass during storage at 2 °C for 24 h was similar in all three groups and was 0·98% of HCW. The proportions of HCW in the fore- and hind-quarters were similar in each group.At the same dissected side weight (DSW), the weight of bone was significantly greater in both the HM and L groups than in the H group indicating that bone development was related to both age and carcass weight. There were no significant differences between the groups in the proportions of either muscle or total fat. However, the proportion of kidney and channel fat in the H group was greater than in the HM and L groups and the proportion of subcutaneous fat was also greater in the H than in the L group. The amount of connective tissue in the three groups followed, in general, group differences in bone. Analyses of the dissected components of the separate fore- and hind-quarters showed that the difference between the H and L groups in the proportion of subcutaneous fat in the DSW was due to a relatively greater development of this fat in the fore-quarter of the H animals.No differences were found between treatments in the proportion of ‘expensive muscles’ relative to total side muscle (TSM). However, there were treatment effects on the proportions of TSM formed by certain groups of muscles; two examples are: the proportion of group 4 muscles (abdominal muscles) was higher and the proportion of group 6 muscles (distal muscles of the fore-leg) was lower in the H than in the L treatments. Bone weight distribution was similar in all treatments.There were differences between the H and HM groups in the relative growth ratios for all fat tissues (subcutaneous, intermuscular and kidney and channel fat) compared with total side fat. However, in the H and L groups, the relative growth ratios for corresponding fat categories were similar. The weight of kidney and channel fat in the left side of the carcass was significantly greater than in the right side of the carcass in all treatments.

The effect of level of protein supplementation on the performance and carcass composition of young bulls given grass silage ad libitum

1991 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
Soya Bean ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Total N ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Bean Meal ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Soya Bean Meal

ABSTRACTTwo experiments have been carried out to examine the effects of the level of protein supplementation given with grass silage-based diets on the performance and carcass composition of bulls, and to compare diets based on silage and dried forage. The five treatments used consisted of grass silage offered ad libitum and supplemented with 2·5 kg dry matter (DM) of barley-based concentrates containing (1) zero (2) 200 (3) 400 and (4) 600 g soya-bean meal per kg and (5) artificially dried grass and hay supplemented with 3·2 kg concentrate DM. The silages used in both experiments were well preserved, containing on average 200 g DM per kg; 140 g crude protein (CP) per kg DM; 63 g ammonia-nitrogen per kg total N and 731 g digestible organic matter per kg DM. The bulls were of late-maturing breed type and were initially 12 months old and 412 and 405 kg live weight in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. For treatments 1, 2, 4 and 5 in experiment 1 respectively (treatment 3 was not used) total DM intakes were 8·3, 8·3, 81 and 110 (s.e. 0·21) kg/day; CP intakes 1063, 1271, 1664 and 1539g/day; metabolizable energy intakes (MEI) 98, 99, 96 and 87 MJ/day; carcass weights 317, 316, 317 and 316 (s.e. 3·2) kg; carcass saleable meat concentrations 714, 712, 718 and 716 (s.e. 5·8) g/kg and carcass fat trims 73, 81, 73 and 68 (s.e. 3·9) g/kg. In experiment 2 for treatments 1 to 5 respectively total DM intakes were 8·3, 8·5, 8·3, 8·4 and 11·2 (s.e. 0·26) kg/day; CP intakes were 1090, 1329, 1504, 1720 and 1561 g/day; MEI 102, 106, 103, 103 and 94 MJ/day; carcass weights 318, 331, 330, 327 and 321 (s.e. 3·3) kg; carcass saleable meat concentrations 726, 721, 725, 721 and 732 (s.e. 60) g/kg and fat trims 71, 77, 78, 80 and 64 (s.e. 4·5) g/kg. It is concluded that protein supplementation of a silage-based diet did not affect performance or carcass fatness in experiment 1 or carcass fatness in experiment 2, but including 200 or 400 g soya-bean meal per kg concentrate increased performance in experiment 2. Animals given silage produced fatter carcasses than those given dried forage in experiment 2 but not in experiment 1.

Effects of clover in the diet of grazed lambs on production and carcass composition

1993 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Vipond ◽  
G. Swift ◽  
R. C. Noble ◽  
G. Horgan
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid Composition ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Acid Composition ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Protein Retention ◽  
Tissue Lipids

AbstractThe effect of grazing clover on ewes and lambs was studied using nitrogen-fertilized grass (G) and grass/white clover pastures (GC) containing proportionately 0·18 clover. Carcasses of lambs grazed on GC were significantly heavier than carcasses of lambs grazed on G pastures. An interaction with weaning occurred. Carcasses from lambs grazed on GC for 53 days post weaning were 2·3 kg heavier (F < 0·01) but lambs slaughtered at weaning had similar carcass weights. Diet had no effect on relative joint components of carcasses. The effect of clover in the diet on carcass weight was attributed to higher levels of protein retention.Analysis of the fatty acid composition of intramuscular and subcutaneous and perirenal lipids indicated small but significant effects of diet. Lean tissue lipids of lambs grazing clover showed significant increases in C18:2 and reduced C20: 5 fatty acids. In tissue fats there were small increases in C14:0, C16:0 and C18:2 with reduced C18:1 content.Twin suckled lambs grazing GC for 94 days from turn-out in early April showed increased live-weight gain over lambs on G of 336 v. 287 g/day (s.e.d. 84; P < 0.001). Post weaning live-weight gain of lambs was 173 and 221 g/day on G and GC respectively. Sward height was maintained at 5.18 and 5.24 (s.e.d. 0.075) cm on G and GC paddocks by adjusting ewe numbers. GC pastures carried proportionately 0.82 of the stock on G pastures but output of lamb was similar at 1289 and 1247 kg/ha for G and GC respectively.Results showed that the production penalty of lower stocking rate associated with grass/clover v. grass fertilized with 190 kg nitrogen per ha was ameliorated by higher lamb live-weight gain and carcass weight without change in joint composition or nutritionally significant change in fatty acid composition of carcass tissues.

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