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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2008-0914v1 87/4/1548    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mader, C. J. Articles by Swanson, K. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mader, C. J. Articles by Swanson, K. C.

Relationships among measures of growth performance and efficiency with carcass traits, visceral organ mass, and pancreatic digestive enzymes in feedlot cattle

Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

kswanson{at}uoguelph.ca

Abstract

Ninety-three crossbred steer calves (BW ± SD = 385 ± 50 kg) were used (n = 48 steers in yr 1, n = 45 steers in yr 2) to examine the relationship among carcass traits, lean, bone, and fat proportions, visceral tissue weights and pancreatic digestive enzyme activity with DMI, ADG, G:F, and residual feed intake. Calves were progeny from crossbred dams predominately of Angus and Simmental breeding and were sired by Angus, Simmental, crossbred (predominately of Angus and Simmental breeding), Charolais, or Piedmontese bulls. Steers were fed a high moisture corn-based diet for an average of 112 d. Partial correlation analysis accounting for yr, pen within yr, wk of slaughter within yr and sire breed was conducted. Gain:feed was negatively correlated (P 0.04) with backfat thickness (r = -0.38), marbling score (r = - 0.32), and trim and kidney fat weight proportion (g/kg BW; r = -0.42). Residual feed intake (P = 0.008; g/kg BW; r = 0.34) and backfat-corrected RFI (P = 0.005; r = 0.29) was positively correlated with trim and kidney fat weight proportion. Gain:feed was negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with total fat weight proportion (g/kg rib; r = -0.45) and positively correlated (P 0.03) with lean weight proportion (g/kg rib; r = 0.30) and bone weight proportion (g/kg rib; r = 0.28). Gain:feed was negatively correlated (P 0.01) with subcutaneous fat weight proportion (g/kg rib; r = -0.32) and intermuscular fat weight proportion (g/kg rib; r = 0.37). Gain:feed was negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with total visceral weight proportion (g/kg BW; r = -0.44) and visceral fat weight proportion (g/kg BW; r = -0.41) but was positively correlated (P = 0.02) with spleen weight proportion (g/kg BW; r = 0.30). There were no significant correlations (P > 0.10) between performance measures and the pancreatic proportional content of -amylase and trypsin activity (units/kg BW). These data indicate that carcass fatness traits and changes in the proportional weight of total viscera may be negatively associated with G:F and that visceral fat weight proportion and trim and kidney fat weight proportion may be important factors influencing this relationship.

Key Words: beef cattle • carcass traits • feed efficiency • pancreatic enzymes • residual feed intake • visceral organs