A comparison between Friesian bulls and steers on pasture for lean meat production

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Abstract
Growth rate and carcase characteristics were compared for Friesian bulls and steers fed solely on pasture and set stocked at 4.9 animals ha-1 Over a period of 11 3 weeks the animals achieved a mean liveweight gain of 0.5 kg animal-1 day-1. At this level of nutrition no significant difference in the growth rates of the bulls and steers was evident. However, the bulls had a higher dressing percentage (3.4 per cent), a higher percentage yield of meat (5.5 per cent), a lower percentage yield of trim (2.3 per cent), a lower percentage yield of bone (3.1 per cent), a larger eye muscle area (4.9 cm2), a greater carcase weight (1 7 kg), and a greater weight of saleable meat (24.1 kg). The steers had a higher percentage of total carcase in the hindquarter (3.6 per cent).