Performance, body composition and carcass characteristics of finishing steers as influenced by previous forage systems

To evaluate effects of previous forage systems on feedlot performance, yearling Hereford steers (average initial weight of 249 kg) were grazed on tall fescue (TF), smooth bromegrass-red clover (BG-RC) or orchardgrass-red clover (OG-RC) pastures before finishing. Serial slaughter was utilized during...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of animal science Vol. 65; no. 5; pp. 1381 - 1391
Main Authors:	Hancock, D.L, Williams, J.E, Hedrick, H.B, Beaver, E.E, Larrick, D.K, Ellersieck, M.R, Garner, G.B, Morrow, R.E, Paterson, J.A, Gerrish, J.R
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Am Soc Animal Sci 01-11-1987
Subjects:	ALIMENT POUR ANIMAUX Animal Feed Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Animals Body Composition Body Weight BOEUF BUEY BULLOCKS CARCASS COMPOSITION Cattle - growth & development COMPOSICION DE LA CANAL COMPOSITION DE LA CARCASSE DESEMPENO ENGORDE ENGRAISSEMENT FATTENING FEEDS GRAZING Male PASTOREO PATURAGE PIENSOS
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Summary:	To evaluate effects of previous forage systems on feedlot performance, yearling Hereford steers (average initial weight of 249 kg) were grazed on tall fescue (TF), smooth bromegrass-red clover (BG-RC) or orchardgrass-red clover (OG-RC) pastures before finishing. Serial slaughter was utilized during the first 2 yr of this study to determine changes in carcass characteristics throughout finishing, while steers were slaughtered at approximately 29% body fat during the third year. Steers grazing TF entered the feedlot at lighter weights and maintained lighter weights throughout finishing (P less than .05) even though dry matter intakes and feed conversions were similar (P greater than .05) among treatments. Steers that previously grazed TF had less (P less than .05) body fat, body protein, fat thickness and marbling, smaller (P less than .05) ribeye areas and lower (P less than .05) USDA yield and quality grades than than those that grazed BG-RC and OG-RC. However, linear contrasts indicated that steers grazing TF were compensating in ribeye area, marbling and quality grade as days in feedlot increased. This was confirmed in the third-year study, since carcass characteristics were similar among all steers. During the third year, linear and quadratic contrasts indicated that steers that grazed TF partially compensated in body protein. As days in feedlot increased, live and hot carcass weights, body fat, fat thickness, kidney, pelvic and heart fat, marbling, and USDA yield and quality grades increased (P less than .05), while ribeye area and body protein plateaued. Although carcass characteristics were similar among treatments, steers backgrounded on TF entered the feedlot at lighter weights, and partially compensated in weight after 134 d of finishing.
Bibliography:	L51 Q04 882880788 L02 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0021-8812 1525-3163
DOI:	10.2527/jas1987.6551381x