EFFECTS OF BREED-TYPE AND SLAUGHTER WEIGHT ON FEEDLOT PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS COMPOSITION IN BULLS

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Abstract
A trial is reported comparing the growth and carcass characteristics of bulls of three breed-types: Hereford crossbred (HC), beef synthetic (SY) and dairy crossbred (DC). Sixteen bulls of each breed-type were grouped four to a pen and randomly allocated to one of two slaughter weights: M (about 500 kg) and H (about 600 kg). The bulls weighed approximately 200 kg at the start of the trial and were fed a high concentrate cereal diet ad libitum. Growth rate was slower and feed required per unit of gain greater for all breed-types in the H than in the M group. In all phases of growth, the DC bulls had the greatest rate of gain and the SY bulls the least. The carcass data indicated that the HC bulls had the fattest carcasses and DC bulls the leanest. SY were intermediate. The grades indicated that increasing liveweight from 500 kg to 600 kg resulted in a shift towards "fatter" grades in earlier fattening types and away from fatter grades in later fattening types. The concept of target slaughter weights and ranges for various biological types of cattle is discussed.