Effects of feeder cattle frame size, muscle thickness, and age class on days fed, weight, and carcass composition

摘要: Feeder steers (n = 189) representing nine frame size x muscle thickness subclasses were started on a high-concentrate diet as calves, yearlings, or long yearlings and slaughtered at constant S.C. fat (13.5 mm) to determine the effects of feeder cattle (large, medium, small), (No. 1, No. 2, 31, age class carcass traits composition. After slaughter, one side each was physically separated into muscle, fat, bone. Subcutaneous, intermuscular, internal depot percentages calculated proportions total weight. Effects class, size, significant for time-on-feed, slaughter weight, Among classes, yearling required fewest (P .05) compositional differ- ences observed between 1 3 steers. Differences in musc1e:bone ratio, though statistically significant, relatively small magnitude not directionally consistent with differences thickness. partitioning noted among subclasses. Large- framed had lowest < percentage highest sizes. deposited intermuscular fat.