Journal of Animal Science, Vol 69, Issue 8 3251-3264, Copyright © 1991 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Physical and chemical components of the empty body during compensatory growth in beef steers

G. E. Carstens, D. E. Johnson, M. A. Ellenberger and J. D. Tatum
Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.

The composition of carcass and noncarcass tissue growth was quantified by serial slaughter of 26 Angus x Hereford crossbred steers (initial age and weight 289 +/- 4 d and 245 +/- 4 kg) during continuous growth (CON) or compensatory growth (CG) after a period of growth restriction (.4 kg/d) from 245 to 325 kg BW. All steers were fed a 70% concentrate diet at ad libitum or restricted levels. Homogenized samples of 9-10-11th rib and noncarcass tissues were analyzed for nitrogen, fat, ash, and moisture. Growth rate from 325 to 500 kg BW was 1.54 and 1.16 kg/d for CG and CON steers. The weight of gut fill in CG steers was 10.8 kg less (P less than .05) before realimentation and 8.8 kg more (P less than .10) at 500 kg BW than in CON steers. The allometric accretive rates for carcass chemical components relative to the empty body were not affected by treatment. However, the accretive rates for CG steers were greater (P less than .01) for noncarcass protein (.821 vs .265), noncarcass water (.861 vs .507), and empty-body protein (.835 vs. .601) than for CON steers. Final empty-body fat was lower (P less than .001; 24.2 vs 32.4%) and empty-body protein higher (P less than .001; 16.6 vs 14.8%) in CG steers than in CON steers. Consequently, net energy requirements for growth (NEg) were approximately 18% lower for CG steers. We conclude that reduced NEg requirements and changes in gut fill accounted for most of the compensatory growth response exhibited in these steers.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. T. Vasconcelos, J. E. Sawyer, L. O. Tedeschi, F. T. McCollum, and L. W. Greene Effects of different growing diets on performance, carcass characteristics, insulin sensitivity, and accretion of intramuscular and subcutaneous adipose tissue of feedlot cattle J Anim Sci, April 1, 2009; 87(4): 1540 - 1547. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. E. Davis Rincker, M. S. Weber Nielsen, L. T. Chapin, J. S. Liesman, and M. J. VandeHaar Effects of Feeding Prepubertal Heifers a High-Energy Diet for Three, Six, or Twelve Weeks on Feed Intake, Body Growth, and Fat Deposition J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2008; 91(5): 1913 - 1925. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. K. Duckett, J. P. S. Neel, R. N. Sonon Jr., J. P. Fontenot, W. M. Clapham, and G. Scaglia Effects of winter stocker growth rate and finishing system on: II. Ninth tenth eleventh-rib composition, muscle color, and palatability J Anim Sci, October 1, 2007; 85(10): 2691 - 2698. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L. Mader and M. S. Davis Effect of management strategies on reducing heat stress of feedlot cattle: Feed and water intake J Anim Sci, October 1, 2004; 82(10): 3077 - 3087. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Hersom, G. W. Horn, C. R. Krehbiel, and W. A. Phillips Effect of live weight gain of steers during winter grazing: I. Feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and body composition of beef steers J Anim Sci, January 1, 2004; 82(1): 262 - 272. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Schoonmaker, M. J. Cecava, F. L. Fluharty, H. N. Zerby, and S. C. Loerch Effect of source and amount of energy and rate of growth in the growing phase on performance and carcass characteristics of early- and normal-weaned steers J Anim Sci, January 1, 2004; 82(1): 273 - 282. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Hersom, C. R. Krehbiel, G. W. Horn, and J. G. Kirkpatrick Effect of the live weight gain of steers during winter grazing on digestibility, acid-base balance, blood flow, and oxygen consumption by splanchnic tissues during adaptation and subsequent feeding of a high-grain diet J Anim Sci, December 1, 2003; 81(12): 3130 - 3140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. T. Choat, C. R. Krehbiel, G. C. Duff, R. E. Kirksey, L. M. Lauriault, J. D. Rivera, B. M. Capitan, D. A. Walker, G. B. Donart, and C. L. Goad Influence of grazing dormant native range or winter wheat pasture on subsequent finishing cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and ruminal metabolism J Anim Sci, December 1, 2003; 81(12): 3191 - 3201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Schoonmaker, M. J. Cecava, D. B. Faulkner, F. L. Fluharty, H. N. Zerby, and S. C. Loerch Effect of source of energy and rate of growth on performance, carcass characteristics, ruminal fermentation, and serum glucose and insulin of early-weaned steers J Anim Sci, April 1, 2003; 81(4): 843 - 855. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Davis, T. L. Mader, S. M. Holt, and A. M. Parkhurst Strategies to reduce feedlot cattle heat stress: Effects on tympanic temperature,3 J Anim Sci, March 1, 2003; 81(3): 649 - 661. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. W. Creighton, C. B. Wilson, T. J. Klopfenstein, and D. C. Adams Undegradable intake protein supplementation of compensating spring-born steers and summer-born steers during summer grazing J Anim Sci, March 1, 2003; 81(3): 791 - 799. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. W. Purchas, D. L. Burnham, and S. T. Morris Effects of growth potential and growth path on tenderness of beef longissimus muscle from bulls and steers J Anim Sci, December 1, 2002; 80(12): 3211 - 3221. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L. Mader, S. M. Holt, G. L. Hahn, M. S. Davis, and D. E. Spiers Feeding strategies for managing heat load in feedlot cattle J Anim Sci, September 1, 2002; 80(9): 2373 - 2382. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]