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

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).