FEEDLOT PERFORMANCE AND CARCASE CHARACTERISTICS OF PIEDMONTESE-AND WAGYU-HEREFORD CATTLE AT TWENTY MONTHS OF AGE

摘要

Piedmontese-Hereford (PxH) and Wagyu-Hereford (WxH) calves (n=257) were born in 2001 and reared to weaning at Grafton Agricultural Research Station on different in utero and preweaning levels of nutrition. Following weaning, 80 steers and 80 heifers were selected to represent divergent birth weight and preweaning growth rates, and these ‘core’ cattle were sent to Glen Innes for growing out on pasture prior to feedlot entry (Hearnshaw et al. 2004). The remaining 94 steers and heifers (intermediate in birth weight and preweaning growth rates) were also grown out on pasture at Glen Innes. In March 2003, the 94 head were weighed and assessed for muscling and fatness and consigned to a feedlot at Warwick, Queensland for finishing for 60 days. This paper presents the growth rates of these PxH and WxH heifers and steers during the feedlot finishing phase, and carcase and yield data following slaughter at either Brismeat abattoir (Woolworths, Qld, n=44 steers) or at Casino abattoir (n=19 heifers and 31 steers). Data were analysed using Linear Mixed Models in Genstat, with significance accepted at P<0.05.