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Carcass Development in Beef Cattle Subsequent to Interrupted Growth^{1, 2,}

The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210 and The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691

Abstract

Forty-Six Hereford steers of similar genetic background were utilized in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial experiment to determine the effects of an extended maintenance period on beef carcass quality and quantity. The factors considered were: (1) Two planes of nutrition (6 months of maintenance followed by full feeding vs. continuously full fed); (2) two dietary energy levels (high vs. low) and (3) slaughter weights (227, 341 and 454 kg).

The data indicated that the carcasses of beef cattle subjected to a period of temporary energy restriction are equal in quality grade to continuously fed cattle, and tend to have less, subcutaneous fat on a high energy diet than on a diet of lower energy. Depot fat diminished during maintenance with concurrent conformation and marbling score decreases. Fat deposition was minimal during the period of growth following the maintenance period up to intermediate weight, but the rate of deposition increased from intermediate to final slaughter weight. Conformation and marbling scores for the maintenance carcasses were statistically equal to controls at final weight.

¹ Approved for publication as Journal Article No. 1–72 by the Associate Director of The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster.

² The authors express appreciation to J. D. Fox for his assistance in the statistical evaluation of the experimental data.

³ Present Address: U. S. Army Natick Laboratories, Natick, Mass.

⁴ Present Address: Dept. of Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings.

⁵ Present Address: Dept. of Animal Science and Industry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.