Following analysis of α-tocopherol, β-carotene and lutein in beef, it is possible to distinguish beef from animals fed a diet based on concentrates and diets containing pasture or pasture/pasture silage/concentrate combinations.
Selection for improved feed efficiency will not have any unfavourable repercussions for carcass traits.
Steers have a greater proportion of forequarter (shin and clod) and lower proportion of hindquarter (topside, rump and sirloin) in their carcasses compared with heifers.
Genetic selection for performance and carcass quality in the UK beef cattle and sheep industries has resulted in a rate of return on investment of 32%.
Take Home Message: Finishing beef animals on grass improves the shelf life of the meat.
Meat from grazed cattle had an improved colour and lipid stability than that from concentrate-fed cattle due, to a higher deposition of vitamin E.
Just one of the findings of a study carried out by scientists to determine the influence of a [...]
Take Home Message: Estimated breeding values for calving interval are not influenced by management decisions on when to re-breed.
Any bias against early maturing British Limousin heifers from management decisions on when to re-breed did not adversely affect the calving interval estimated breeding values (EBVs).
That’s what a team of scientists at the Scottish Agricultural College found [...]
Take Home Message: Genetic selection for carcass quality traits in beef animals can be improved by using carcass data collected at the abattoir.
Improving beef carcass quality traits through genetic selection is possible, according to the results of a recent study carried out by researchers at the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC).
“The data we gathered gave a [...]
Take Home Message: CT scanning accurately predicts carcass quality in beef joints. This information can be used in breeding programs or for industry benchmarking
CT scanning allows fast and accurate assessment of beef carcass composition with lower costs than physical dissection – the traditional method – and without damaging or devaluing the carcass.
“And this information is [...]
Take Home Message: On-farm digital image analysis can be used to accurately predict animal liveweight, fat class and conformation therefore improving selection for slaughter.
Live animal digital image analysis systems are feasible under common on-farm management conditions and can be used to predict some important slaughter characteristics.
“But further studies are required to extend the digital image [...]
Take Home Message:
- Feeding urea treated wheat to finishing steers compared to crimping or rolling will increase forage intake but reduce food conversion and carcass gain
- Increasing silage quality from approx. 10.7 to 11.7 MJ/kg DM can save approx. 3kg/head/day of feed wheat.
Treating grain with urea decreases beef carcass gain due to increased grain egestion [...]
