Long-term consequences of birth weight and growth to weaning on carcass, yield and beef quality characteristics of Piedmontese- and Wagyu-sired cattle
P. L. Greenwood A B H , L. M. Cafe A B C , H. Hearnshaw A C F , D. W. Hennessy A C G , J. M. Thompson A D and S. G. Morris EA Cooperative Research Centre for Cattle and Beef Quality, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B NSW Department of Primary Industries, Beef Industry Centre of Excellence, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
C NSW Department of Primary Industries, Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, Grafton, NSW 2460, Australia.
D Division of Animal Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
E NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar Agricultural Institute, Wollongbar, NSW 2477, Australia.
F Current address: PO Box 433, Grafton, NSW 2460, Australia.
G Current address: 187 Fitzroy Street, Grafton, NSW 2460, Australia.
H Corresponding author. Email: paul.greenwood@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(2) 257-269 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05240
Submitted: 24 August 2005 Accepted: 6 February 2006 Published: 3 March 2006
Abstract
Cattle sired by Piedmontese or Wagyu bulls were bred and grown within pasture-based nutritional systems followed by feedlot finishing. Effects of low (mean 28.6 kg, n = 120) and high (38.8 kg, n = 120) birth weight followed by slow (mean 554 g/day, n = 119) or rapid (875 g/day, n = 121) growth to weaning on carcass, yield and beef quality characteristics at about 30 months of age were examined. Low birth weight calves weighed 56 kg less at 30 months of age, had 32 kg lighter carcasses, and yielded 18 kg less retail beef compared with high birth weight calves. Composition of carcasses differed little due to birth weight when adjusted to an equivalent carcass weight (380 kg). Calves grown slowly to weaning were 40 kg lighter at 30 months of age compared with those grown rapidly to weaning. They had 25 kg smaller carcasses which yielded 12 kg less retail beef than their counterparts at 30 months of age, although at an equivalent carcass weight yielded 5 kg more retail beef and had 5 kg less fat trim. Neither low birth weight nor slow growth to weaning had adverse effects on beef quality measurements. No interactions between sire-genotype and birth weight, or growth to weaning, were evident for carcass, yield and beef quality traits. Although restricted growth during fetal life or from birth to weaning resulted in smaller animals that yield less meat at about 30 months of age, adverse effects on composition due to increased fatness, or on indices of beef quality, were not evident at this age or when data were adjusted to an equivalent carcass weight.
Additional keywords: calf, composition, growth, meat, newborn, weaning.
Acknowledgments
The financial and in-kind support of the Cooperative Research Centre for Cattle and Beef Quality, NSW Department of Primary Industries, CSIRO Livestock Industries and the University of New England to enable the conduct of this research is gratefully acknowledged. We acknowledge the considerable efforts of the following research, veterinary, technical and/or farm staff: Lewis Molloy, Keith Newby, William Lee, Max Johnson, Eric Donoghue and Albert Martin, NSW Department of Primary Industries Agricultural Research and Advisory Station at Grafton; Phil Dawes, Peter Kamphorst, Peter Newman and Ross Dicker, NSW Department of Primary Industries Centre for Perennial Grazing Systems, Glen Innes; Stuart McClelland, Joe Brunner, Bill Johns, Steve Sinclair, Reg Woodgate, Kim Quinn and Diana Perry, NSW Department of Primary Industries Beef Industry Centre of Excellence, Armidale; Dr John Wilkins, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga; Reid Geddes, Matt Wolcott and Jason Siddell, Beef Quality CRC ‘Tullimba’ Feedlot; Peter Allingham, Dr Greg Harper and Dr Sigrid Lehnert, CSIRO Livestock Industries, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia; Andrew Slack-Smith and Jason Siddell, University of New England Meat Science Complex; Rebecca Farrell and John Bertram, Queensland Department of Primary Industries. We also wish to acknowledge Louise Hale who undertook an Honours project at the University of Queensland, within this research. The excellent cooperation of the management and staff of John Dee Abattoir, Warwick, in particular Warren Stiff, John Calvert and Geoff Grant, is also gratefully acknowledged. We are also grateful to James and Lyndon Mulligan of ‘Spelga Piedmontese’, the Australian Wagyu Association, and Peter Lee of ‘Waterview Wagyu’ who generously supplied the semen and the bulls used in this study. Finally, we acknowledge the contribution of Dr Hutton Oddy, Meat and Livestock Australia for his role in initiating this research.
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