Growth and carcass characteristics of Wagyu-sired steers at heavy market weights following slow or rapid growth to weaning

Two groups of Wagyu × Hereford steers grown slowly (slow preweaning group, n = 14, mean average daily gain = 631 g/day) or rapidly (rapid preweaning group, n = 15, mean average daily gain = 979 g/day) from birth to weaning were backgrounded on improved, temperate pasture to equivalent group liveweights (543 v. 548 kg, s.e. = 8.8 kg), then finished in a feedlot for 120 days. At weaning, the slow preweaning group was 79 kg lighter than the rapid preweaning group. They required an additional 43 days of backgrounding to reach the same feedlot entry weight as the rapid preweaning group. The slow preweaning group grew more rapidly during backgrounding (630 v. 549 g/day, s.e. = 13.7 g/day) but tended to grow more slowly during feedlotting (1798 v. 1982 g/day, s.e. = 74.9 g/day) than their rapid preweaning counterparts, with overall growth rates from weaning to feedlot exit not differing between the 2 groups (rapid 763 g/day v. slow 772 g/day, s.e. = 17.5 g/day). At slaughter, following the feedlot phase, carcass weights of the 2 groups did not differ significantly (rapid 430 kg v. slow 417 kg, s.e. = 7.2 kg). There was a tendency for the steers grown slowly to weaning to have a higher dressing percentage (57.6 v. 56.6%, s.e. = 0.33%), but there were no significant differences in carcass compositional characteristics between the 2 groups. The slow preweaning steers did have a greater eye muscle area than the rapid preweaning steers (106.6 v. 98.9 cm2, s.e. = 1.87) when carcass weight was used as a covariate. These findings demonstrate that cattle grown slowly to weaning have similar composition at slaughter as those grown rapidly during the same period when backgrounded on pasture to the same feedlot entry weight. Furthermore, marbling was not adversely affected by slow growth to weaning.

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Effect of different post-weaning growth paths on long-term weight gain, carcass characteristics and eating quality of beef cattle

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea05227 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 46 (12) ◽

pp. 1571 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

N. W. Tomkins ◽

G. S. Harper ◽

H. L. Bruce ◽

R. A. Hunter

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Rapid Growth ◽

Slow Growth ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Nutrient Restriction ◽

Longissimus Dorsi ◽

Beef Quality ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Daily Gain

The effects of post-weaning nutrient restriction on growth, carcass characteristics and beef quality were determined. Belmont Red weaner steers (n = 100) were allocated to an initial slaughter group and 3 treatment groups of 120 days duration: rapid growth, slow growth and weight loss. The average daily gain of the groups were (mean ± s.e.): 0.81 ± 0.02, 0.29 ± 0.02 and –0.22 ± 0.01 kg/day, for the rapid growth, slow growth and weight loss groups, respectively. At the end of the treatment period, rapid growth steers had significantly (P<0.05) heavier carcasses, higher dressing percentages and greater bone mineral contents than those from the weight loss group. Steers from each group were realimented for 192 days at pasture. Average daily gains during this period were 0.39 ± 0.03, 0.52 ± 0.04 and 0.61 ± 0.05 kg/day for the rapid growth, slow growth and weight loss groups, respectively. Ten animals from the rapid growth group were then slaughtered to determine carcass characteristics. The remaining steers were finished at pasture for a further 409 days. During this period there was no significant difference in average daily gain between treatment groups. Steers from the rapid growth group had a significantly greater final weight (531 ± 16.8 kg) compared with weight loss steers (481 ± 14.0 kg). Carcass characteristics, eye muscle area, bone mineral content and objective measures of meat quality for the M. longissimus dorsi and M. semitendinosus did not differ significantly between groups. Shear peak force values for cooked M. longissimus dorsi samples were not significantly different between groups. Clipped meat quality scores for M. longissimus dorsi samples, as assessed by Meat Standards Australia, were not significantly different between treatment groups and indicated consumer acceptability. It was concluded that nutrient restriction in the immediate post-weaning period followed by pasture realimentation did not influence final carcass characteristics or beef quality.

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Growth and carcass characteristics of crossbred and straightbred Hereford steers. II. Carcass measurements and composition

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9810171 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 171 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

JM Thompson ◽

R Barlow

Keyword(s):

Subcutaneous Fat ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Allometric Equation ◽

The Body ◽

The Other ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Eye Muscle ◽

Fat Thickness ◽

Breed Crosses

The effect of sire breed on the growth and development of carcass characteristics was examined in 104 steer carcasses, over the weight range of c. 300 to 600 kg liveweight. The carcasses were obtained from 28 straightbred Hereford, 27 Brahman x Hereford, 23 Simmental x Hereford and 26 Friesian x Hereford steers, which were grown on pasture and slaughtered in four groups when the Herefords weighed c. 270, 370, 470 and 570 kg liveweight. Changes in carcass characteristics with weight were examined by using the linear form of the allometric equation (log10Y = log10A+blog10X). As liveweight increased, the proportion of carcass in the body increased (b = 1.152). At the same liveweight, Brahman cross steers had heavier carcasses than the Hereford steers, which were heavier than either the Simmental or Friesian cross steers (P < 0.05). Fat thickness at the 12th-13th rib site, and kidney and channel fat weight both increased at a proportionally faster rate than carcass weight (b = 1.511 and 1 567 respectively). At the same carcass weight, Hereford and Brahman cross carcasses had a greater fat thickness than Simmental and Friesian cross carcasses (P i 0.05). Differences between sire breeds in kidney and channel fat weight were not significant (P > 0.05). C:rcass length and eye muscle area increased at a proportionally slower rate than carcass weight (b = 0.268 and 0.466 respectively). At the same carcass weight, Friesian cross carcasses were longer, and Simmental cross carcasses had a larger eye muscle area than the other breed crosses (P < 0.05). As total side weight increased, the proportions of subcutaneous and intermuscular fatAincreased (b = 1.554 and 1.535 respectively), and the proportions of muscle and bone decreased (b = 0.938 and 0.676 respectively). At the same side weight, the Hereford and Brahman cross carcasses had more subcutaneous fat than the Simmental and Friesian cross carcasses (P < 0.05). The Hereford carcasses had more intermuscular fat than the Simmental cross carcasses, which had more muscle than the other breed crosses (P < 0.05). Friesian cross carcasses had more bone than the Simmental crosses, with Brahman cross and Hereford carcasses having the least bone (P < 0.05). Brahman cross carcasses had a higher conformation score than the Simmental cross and Hereford carcasses, the Friesian cross carcasses having the lowest (P < 0.05). Samples of the M. longissimus from Brahman cross carcasses had a higher Warner-Bratzler shear force than samples from the other breed crosses (P < 0.05).

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Effect of feeding dry-rolled corn or whole shelled corn during the finishing phase on growth performance and carcass characteristics

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txaa228 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

T B Freitas ◽

T L Felix ◽

C Clark ◽

F L Fluharty ◽

A E Relling

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Block Design ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Feedlot Cattle ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Quality Grade

Abstract The objectives of this trial were to evaluate the effect of corn processing during the finishing phase on feedlot cattle performance and carcass characteristics. We hypothesized that steers fed dry-rolled corn would have better feed efficiency (less feed necessary to the same amount of gain) than steers fed whole shelled corn. Ninety-five backgrounded Angus-cross cattle, (initial body weight (BW) = 263 ± 9.8 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design in a feedlot setting. Cattle were divided in to 3 blocks: heifers (n = 31, 4 pens; initial BW = 267 ± 1.3 kg), light steers (n = 32, 4 pens; initial BW = 253 ± 1.3 kg), and heavy steers (n = 32, 4 pens; initial BW = 279 ± 1.4 kg). Diets contained 70% corn (experimental treatment), 15% dried distiller’s grains with solubles, 7% grass hay, and 8% supplement, on a dry matter basis. Cattle were fed for 217, 224, and 231 ± 8 d for the heifer, heavy steer, and light steer blocks, respectively. Two pens within each block were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: 1) dry-rolled corn (DRC) or 2) whole shelled corn (WSC). Animal growth performance and carcass characteristics were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, including the fixed effect of treatment. Pen and block were included as random effects. Carcass characteristics USDA Yield Grade and Quality Grade distributions were compared using the GLIMMIX procedure of using the same model than the growth performance data. Data are presented as LSMeans. Cattle fed DRC had greater average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.02) and final BW (P < 0.01) when compared with cattle fed WSC. Even though ADG was greater for the DRC treatment, feed efficiency was similar (P = 0.45) because dry matter intake (DMI) was also greater (P = 0.04) for DRC when compared with the WSC treatment. Cattle fed DRC also had greater hot carcass weight (P < 0.01), dressing percentage (P < 0.01), and Longissimus dorsi muscle area (LMA; P < 0.01) than cattle fed WSC. No differences (P ≥ 0.18) were observed for marbling score, USDA Yield Grade or USDA Quality Grade. In conclusion, feeding DRC to feedlot cattle improved ADG, hot carcass weight, and LMA, without affecting feed efficiency or meat quality.

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A comparison of pigs slaughtered at three different weights I. Carcass quality and performance

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600015793 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 19-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

S. F. Buck

Keyword(s):

Performance Testing ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Live Weight ◽

Food Conversion ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Eye Muscle ◽

Lean Meat ◽

And Performance ◽

Daily Gain ◽

Food Consumed

The following conclusions were obtained from a comparison of growth and carcass characteristics of pigs slaughtered at 150, 200 and 260 lb. liveweight.(a) The ranking of boars at the three weights, according to the quality of their progeny at each weight, was similar for the carcass characteristics, i.e. percentage of lean meat, length, backfat and eye muscle area—but was not associated for the efficiency factors, i.e. daily gain and food conversion. Results from singly-penned progeny pigs confirm that food consumed up to 150 lb. live weight is not indicative of the food consumed between 150 and 200 lb. live weight. A similar result is true for daily gain. It thus does not appear that the results obtained at 150 lb. live weight could be used to represent results at heavier weights and this is particularly true for performance testing when only one animal is concerned. Rather it would appear that if the pigs were raised to a given weight, carcass information at an earlier weight could be obtained on the live pig by ultrasonic means and by subjective estimates, whilst food conversion and daily gain could be calculated exactly at any live weight.(b) The weights of the different cuts as a percentage of the side weight does not appear to change much between slaughter weights. The carcass becomes less lean as the slaughter weight increases and this difference in leanness is more observable between the 200 and 260 lb. weights than between the 150 and 200 lb. weights. In these ranges at least as much lean as fat is put on in the shoulder and ham but more fat than lean is put on in the back and in the streak. For example, between 200 and 260 lb., 5 lb. of lean to 9 lb. of fat is added in the back cut.(c) For all cuts and for both sexes, the percentage of lean meat added in the range 200–260 lb. live weight is less than that for the range 150–200 lb. live weight. This difference is more severe for hogs, especially in the back cut. The sex difference (in favour of the leaner gilt) becomes more pronounced at the heavier weight range. This is not so obvious in the ham but is marked in the shoulder and streak and particularly in the back. 3·9 lb. of food is required to put on 1 lb. of live weight between 150 and 200 lb., whilst 4·3 lb. of food is needed for each 1 lb. gain between 200 and 260 lb. live weight.(d) Percentage of lean meat prediction equations fitted to the data at the three weights are of equal accuracy. In all cases the reduction in variance is highly significant and the percentage of lean meat of a pig can be estimated with a standard error of approximately 2% of carcass weight.

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Growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot Holstein steers fed ractopamine hydrochloride1

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txz157 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 102-117

Author(s):

Cathy L Lockard ◽

Chris J Richards ◽

Caleb G Lockard ◽

Maggie Youngers ◽

Mariah A Woolsoncroft ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Block Design ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Feedlot Performance ◽

Randomized Complete Block Design ◽

Growth Promoting ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Growth-promoting technologies such as implants, ionophores, and β-agonists improve feedlot performance, efficiency, and carcass characteristics of cattle. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of dose and duration of ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics when fed to Holstein steers. A randomized complete block design was used with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments with 3 RH doses (0, 300, or 400 mg∙steer−1∙d−1) fed for 3 durations (28, 35, or 42 d). Holstein steers (n = 855; initial body weight [BW] = 448 ± 37 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly allocated to 1 of 9 pens (15 blocks; 9 dose × duration treatment combinations) approximately 72 d before harvest. Weekly pen weights, chute temperament scores, and animal mobility were determined during the RH feeding period. At harvest, carcass data were collected on all steers, and tenderness was measured on steaks from 3 or 4 randomly selected steers from each pen and slice shear force (SSF) was determined on one steak selected from each side of the carcass after aging for 14 or 21 d. For feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and SSF, no dose × duration interactions were observed (P ≥ 0.11). With increasing RH dose, average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), whereas BW gain increased linearly with RH dose and duration (P ≤ 0.01). Hot carcass weight (P = 0.02) and longissimus muscle (LM) area (P ≤ 0.01) increased linearly with increasing RH dose. The percentage of carcasses in the USDA Yield Grade 2 category increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) and percentage of carcasses in the USDA Yield Grade 4 category tended (P = 0.08) to decrease linearly as RH dose increased. In the 14-d aged steaks, the percentage of steaks with SSF ≤ 15.3 kg decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), whereas the percentage of steaks with ≥20.0 kg SSF increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) with increasing RH dose. After 21-d aging, there was a tendency (P = 0.06) for a greater percentage of steaks from steers fed RH to have SSF ≥ 20.0 kg (2% of total steaks), but no difference (P ≥ 0.12) in the percentage of steaks with SSF ≤ 19.9 kg. Final chute temperament (P ≥ 0.45) and animal mobility (P ≥ 0.67) scores were not affected by feeding RH. Increasing the dose of RH (300 or 400 mg∙steer−1∙d−1) fed for 28 to 42 d before harvest increased ADG, G:F, hot carcass weight, and LM area when fed to Holstein steers with no negative effects on behavior or mobility. The percentage of steaks classified as not tender improved when steaks were aged for 21 d from steers treated with RH.

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Different roughage:concentrate ratios and water supplies to feedlot lambs: carcass characteristics and meat chemical composition

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859620000076 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 157 (7-8) ◽

pp. 643-649

Author(s):

C. M. Silva Moura ◽

G. G. L. Araújo ◽

B. Y. S. Oliveira ◽

J. A. G. Azevêdo ◽

E. C. Pimenta Filho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Supply ◽

Shear Force ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Average Weight ◽

Water Restriction ◽

Effect Of Water ◽

Santa Inês ◽

Daily Gain

AbstractThe current study evaluated the effects of dietary roughage:concentrate (R:C) ratios and water supply on the carcass characteristics and yield of lambs. Forty Santa Inês crossbred lambs with an average body weight (BW) of 19 ± 2.8 kg were evaluated in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of two proportions of roughage and concentrate (30:70 and 70:30) and two levels of water supply (ad libitum and restricted to 0.5). The animals were slaughtered at an average weight of 28 ± 31 kg. Centesimal composition, colour parameters (L*, a* and b*), shear force, cooking losses and pH were determined on the Longissimus lumborum muscle. There was no interaction effect between the R:C ratio and water supply on the evaluated variables. Total BW gain, average daily gain and final BW were affected by water restriction and R:C ratio. Water restriction reduced total BW gain, average daily gain and final BW. No effect of water restriction was detected on slaughter weight, centesimal composition, colour variations, shear force, pH, weight or yield of carcass. No effect of water restriction and diets was observed on the cuts, except for neck weight. Carcass weight and yield were affected by the R:C ratios. Restricting the water supply to 0.5 does not affect the carcass weight or yield of Santa Inês crossbred lambs or their meat quality characteristics (centesimal composition, colour, shear force and pH measurements). A higher proportion of concentrate in the diet results in heavier hot and cold carcass weights.

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Effect of cimaterol on growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality in double-muscled Belgian White-blue bulls

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas94-103 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 74 (4) ◽

pp. 707-709 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ch. V. Boucqué ◽

L. O. Fiems ◽

B. G. Cottyn ◽

R. J. Moermans ◽

M. Sommer

Keyword(s):

Key Words ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Shear Force ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Daily Gain

Thirty-two double-muscled Belgian White-blue bulls, within a liveweight range of 542 (± 37) to 722 (± 31) kg, daily received 0 or 60 μg cimaterol kg−1 liveweight in a corn silage diet for 136 (± 29) d. Cimaterol slightly improved average daily gain from 1.28 to 1.38 kg (P > 0.05). Cold carcass weight and dressing were increased by cimaterol from 497.0 to 514.6 kg (P < 0.05) and from 71.0 to 72.9% (P < 0.001), respectively. Even in extremely meaty animals, cimaterol exerted a significant repartitioning effect towards more meat and less fat, both in the carcass and in the longissimus thoracis muscle. Cimaterol increased the shear force value from 37.1 to 52.7 N (P < 0.001) but had no effect on other organoleptical traits. Key words: Cimaterol, double-muscled bulls, growth, carcass, meat quality

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FEEDLOT AND CARCASS TRAITS OF STEERS OF THE HIGHLAND AND HEREFORD BREEDS AND THEIR RECIPROCAL CROSSES

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas75-019 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 169-177

Author(s):

J. E. LAWSON

Keyword(s):

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Traits ◽

The Other ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Eye Muscle ◽

Reciprocal Crosses ◽

Breed Differences ◽

Fat Thickness ◽

Overall Performance ◽

Daily Gain

Calves of the Hereford breed, and the Highland × Hereford and Hereford × Highland crosses surpassed those of the Highland in final feedlot weight, average daily gain in the feedlot, cold carcass weight, and dressing percentage. The fat thickness over the eye muscle was significantly less in the Highland than in the other groups; however, when considered as thickness of fat per 100 kg of cold carcass no important breed differences existed. Although area of eye muscle did not differ between any of the breeds and crosses, the Highland had greater area of eye muscle per 100 kg of cold carcass. Calves were slaughtered when the majority of the Herefords were judged, visually, to have reached "choice" or "good" grades. The percentage of animals achieving grades of choice or good was less for the Highland than for the other three groups. Heterosis effects were 6.3, 5.7, 7.1, 1.2, and 5.2% for final feedlot weight, feedlot average daily gain, cold carcass weight, dressing percent, and intramuscular fat. Although the percent heterosis for area of eye muscle and fat thickness over the eye muscle was 4.4 and 5.8, the advantage was in favor of the straightbreds over the reciprocal crosses (5.3%) when considered in terms of area of eye muscle per 100 kg of cold carcass weight. The two crossbred groups were similar to the Hereford, while the Highland was inferior to all three groups in overall performance for the traits in this study.

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Growth and carcass characteristics of prime lambs fed diets containing urea, lupins or canola meal as a crude protein source

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea02134 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 43 (10) ◽

pp. 1193 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

S. C. Wiese ◽

C. L. White ◽

D. G. Masters ◽

J. T. B. Milton ◽

R. H. Davidson

Keyword(s):

Growth Rates ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Control Diet ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Poor Performance ◽

Canola Meal ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Eye Muscle ◽

Cereal Grain ◽

Alternative Sources

Lupin grain typically provides the main source of protein in most lamb finisher diets in Western Australia. The aim of this work was to determine whether alternative sources of nitrogen could provide a less expensive means of achieving the desired rate of liveweight gain and carcass characteristics. Fifty-one crossbred lambs were finished using 3 different sources of crude protein. These sources were either: (i) a control diet consisting of lupins, oats, barley and cereal chaff in which lupins provided 49% of the nitrogen (lupin diet); (ii) a diet consisting of a combination of cereal grain and urea (urea diet); or (iii) a diet in which lupins were partially replaced with expeller canola meal (canola diet). Diets were isonitrogenous (14.4% crude protein) and isoenergetic (10.5 MJ ME/kg DM). Lambs were gradually introduced to the diets over 2 weeks before being fed the diets ad�libitum for 5 weeks.Lambs fed the canola diet performed the best in terms of feed intake and liveweight gain while those fed the urea diet performed the worst. Respective growth rates for sheep fed the canola, lupin and urea diets were 272, 233 and 180 g/day, respectively, with significant (P<0.05) differences only between the canola and urea diets. Equivalent dry matter intakes for the 3 groups were 1660, 1570 and 1380 g/day respectively, with sheep fed the urea diets being significantly (P<0.05) lower than the other two. Acidosis was considered to be a major cause of the poor performance of sheep fed the urea diet, with 3 sheep from this treatment showing inappetance and markedly reduced growth rates ('shy feeders'). Lambs finished on all 3 diets produced acceptable carcasses. Carcass weights followed the trend of growth rates, but there were no significant differences between diets in carcass weight, dressing percentage, GR tissue depth, C�site fat depth, eye muscle area, muscle pH or meat colour. At the price of the feeds used in this trial, the canola meal diet was the cheapest feed per kilogram of liveweight gain despite being the most costly diet per tonne of feed.

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