Abstract
This investigation was to determine the influence of two energy intakes (H and M) in various sequences on live and carcass weight and muscle gains of 162 Holstein steers between birth and slaughter at 91, 227, 340, 454, or 590kg live weight. Steers on M were fed to gain daily 60 to 70% of those on H fed ad libitum.Live and carcass weight followed the expected sigmoid curve with steers on H gaining more rapidly than those on M. Before 227kg live weight, daily increase of muscle was greater and was influenced more by energy intake than increase of fat or bone. At heavier live weights rate of fat deposition accelerated markedly and was influenced most by energy intake. Compensatory growth was noted when steers were switched from M to H at 454kg live weight.Digestible energy and fed dry matter were utilized less efficiently for live and carcass weight and muscle increase as steers were fed to heavier weights. Efficiency of utilizing digestible energy for live weight and muscle gains was either similar for the two energy intakes or higher for steers on H than those on M. Steers on H utilized digestible energy more efficiently for carcass weight gain at all live weights. However, steers on H digested the ration less efficiently and the cost of digestible energy in the H ration was higher.
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