Carcass Quality Of Steers Research Articles

Performance and carcass characteristics of steers fed with two levels of metabolizable energy intake during summer and winter season

Climate change is producing an increase on extreme weather events around the world such as flooding, drought and extreme ambient temperatures impacting animal production and animal welfare. At present, there is a lack of studies addressing the effects of climatic conditions associated with energy intake in finishing cattle in South American feed yards. Therefore, two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of environmental variables and level of metabolizable energy intake above maintenance requirements (MEI) on performance and carcass quality of steers. In each experiment (winter and summer), steers were fed with 1.85 or 2.72 times of their requirements of metabolizable energy of maintenance. A total of 24 crossbred steers per experiment were used and located in four pens (26.25 m2/head) equipped with a Calan Broadbent Feeding System. Animals were fed with the same diet within each season, varying the amount offered to adjust the MEI treatments. Mud depth, mud scores, tympanic temperature (TT), environmental variables, average daily gain, respiration rates and carcass characteristics plus three thermal comfort indices were collected. Data analysis considered a factorial arrangement (Season and MEI). In addition, a repeated measures analysis was performed for TT and respiration rate. Mean values of ambient temperature, solar radiation and comfort thermal indices were greater in the summer experiment as expected (P<0.005). The mean values of TT were higher in steers fed with higher MEI and also in the summer season. The average daily gain was greater during summer v. winter (1.10±0.11 v. 0.36±0.06) kg/day, also when steers were fed 2.72 v. 1.85 MEI level (0.89±0.12 v. 0.57±0.10) kg/day. In summer, respiration rate increased in 41.2% in the afternoon. In winter, muddy conditions increased with time of feeding, whereas wind speed and rainfall had significant effects on TT and average daily gain. We conclude that MEI and environmental variables have direct effects on the physiology and performance of steers, including TT and average daily gain, particularly during the winter. In addition, carcass characteristics were affected by season but not by the level of MEI. Finally, due to the high variability of data as well as the small number of animals assessed in these experiments, more studies on carcass characteristics under similar conditions are required.

Meta-analysis of the immunocastration technique (anti-GnRH) for male bovines in the finishing phase

Abstract: The objective of this work was to analyze the effects of immunocastration on the performance and carcass quality of steers in the finishing phase, compared with non-castration and surgical castration. Data from ten studies with records of 1,261 male bovines were analyzed. The studies included in the meta-analysis necessarily contained treatments with immunocastration specifically against the gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Each study was considered as a random effect in the statistical model used. The data were tested for homogeneity of variances and residue normality, and then subjected to the analysis of variance. Means were compared by Student’s t-test. Non-castrated steers showed greater daily weight gain, feed efficiency, slaughter and hot carcass weights, and loin eye area, besides lower fat thickness than surgically-castrated animals and the lowest a* and b* meat coloration values. Overall, immunocastrated steers were inferior to the non-castrated ones, but superior to those surgically-castrated. Immunocastrated steers present performance and carcass traits superior to those of surgically-castrated animals, but similar meat quality.

Subsequent Feedlot Performance and Carcass Quality of Steers that Grazed Tall Fescue with Different Endophyte Types

Research was conducted to determine subsequent feedlot performance and carcass quality of steers that grazed tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.; Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.)] pastures with different endophyte types. Three breed and gender groups of cattle grazed wild‐type endophyte‐infected (E+), novel endophyte‐infected (MaxQ), or endophyte‐free (E−) tall fescue pastures for about 100 days. Twenty‐four animals (four head/paddock; two paddock replicates/endophyte type) from each of the three groups were transported to a feedlot in Stillwater, OK, after the completion of the grazing phase. At arrival to the feedlot, cattle within pasture replicate were maintained in pens and fed a high‐concentrate diet for 112 days in Year 1 and 102 days in Year 2. Live weights of cattle off pasture were 59 kg greater for MaxQ than for E+, and similar to E−. Transit shrink on a percentage basis did not differ among MaxQ and E+ or E−. Rectal temperatures at feedlot arrival and processing were higher for E+ than for MaxQ. In the feedlot, overall average daily gain did not differ among MaxQ and E+ or E−, and averaged 1.99 ± 0.13 kg/day across all treatments. Overall feed efficiency was greater for E+ than for MaxQ. Hot carcass weight was 35 kg heavier for MaxQ than for E+. Other carcass traits did not differ among MaxQ and E+, or MaxQ and E−. Grazing E+ tall fescue decreased gains during the grazing phase that resulted in lighter cattle going into the feedlot, and this weight differential continued after finishing due to similar gains in the feedlot period.

Short Communication: Growth and attainment of puberty in calves from cows supplemented with linseed meal during late gestation and early lactation

Ilse, B. R., Anderson, V. L., Buchanan, D. S., Odde, K. G., Lardy, G. P. and Vonnahme, K. A. 2012. Short Communication: Growth and attainment of puberty in calves from cows supplemented with linseed meal during late gestation and early lactation. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 443–447. To test the objective that a linseed meal (LSM) supplement in beef cows during late gestation and early lactation would impact offspring growth performance, steer carcass composition, and attainment of puberty in heifer calves, multiparous beef cows received either LSM or a control supplement for the last 60 d of gestation (exp. 1; n=72) or during the first 60 d of lactation (exp. 2; n=91). In both experiments, birth weight, weaning weight, and ADG of calves were not affected (P&gt;0.31) by LSM supplementation. There was no effect (P&gt;0.09) of supplementation on carcass characteristics of steer progeny fed to market weight. In exps. 1 and 2, attainment of puberty in heifer calves was not influenced (P&gt;0.58) by supplement type. Linseed meal supplementation during late gestation or early lactation does not appear to affect calf growth, onset of puberty in heifer calves, or steer carcass quality.

Performance and carcass quality of steers fed whole raw soybeans at increasing inclusion levels1

Performance and carcass quality of steers fed whole raw soybeans at increasing inclusion levels1

A comparison of growth rates and carcass quality of steers receiving maize silage as a supplement to annual pasture or as a component of a feedlot ration

Summary. We tested the hypothesis that liveweight gain per hectare could be doubled in beef steers grazing irrigated annual pastures by increasing stocking rate from 2.5 to 5.0 steers/ha and supplementing the heavier stocked treatments with maize silage offered at either 2.4 or 5.6 kg dry matter/steer. day to replicated groups of 4 steers. During an average period on feed of 172 days, liveweight gain was substantially increased, from 245 kg/ha to either 464 or 576 kg/ha, when maize silage was fed to steers at 2064 or 4816 kg dry matter/ha, in association with an increase in stocking rate from 2.5 to 5.0 steers/ha. However, such production systems increased the chance of feed shortages, particularly in exceptionally wet winters such as the one experienced in the experiment. Increasing the rate of supplementary feeding without increasing stocking rate may not be economically viable. Other strategies, such as lot feeding steers, were also tested. Diets where maize silage constituted either 46% dry matter (with the balance of the diet comprising wheat grain, cottonseed meal, urea, bentonite, vitamins and minerals) or 97% dry matter (with the balance of the diet comprising urea, vitamins and minerals) led to steers achieving liveweight gain of 1.34 and 0.93 kg/steer. day respectively. Carcasses from steers eating maize silage fed at pasture or maize silage as a component of lot-fed diets had at least as adequate fat cover and as good eating quality as carcasses from steers grazing at 2.5 steers/ha.