Effect of Full-Feeding for Various Periods and Sire Influence on Quantitative and Qualitative Beef Carcass Characteristics

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Abstract
Two hundred steers, progeny of 12 pure-bred beef sires, were allotted equally by sire group into five lots after being weaned and were full-fed a growing and finishing ration for 139 to 251 days. A lot of cattle was slaughtered every 28 days during this period. The right side of each carcass was processed into retail cuts. Slaughter weight and carcass weight increased as the length of time on feed increased. A slight over-all decrease in rate of gain and an over-all increase in dressing percent were associated with extended time on feed. Mean carcass quality grade by lot did not improve significantly after 195 days on feed. Significant differences in quantitative and qualitative carcass characteristics existed among progeny of the various sires. Some sire differences in percent retail yield were affected by days on feed. The most significant effect of extended feeding from 139 to 251 days was an increase in percent fat and a decrease in percent retail cuts. Steers full-fed on a finishing ration beyond average to high Good had a disadvantage in total percent retail cuts and in the percent of retail cuts from the high priced primal cuts. Percent retail cuts from progeny of most sires decreased as days on full feed increased. Copyright © 1968. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1968 by American Society of Animal Science

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