Effects of early weaning and breed on calf performance and carcass and meat quality in autumn-born bull calves.

摘要

Effects of age at weaning and breed (Pirenaica and Parda de Montana) were investigated on calf performance and carcass and meat quality in autumn-calving beef cattle. At calving, 14 cow/calf pairs of each breed were kept indoors during lactation, weaned at 90 days (early) or at 150 days (traditional), and subsequently given an intensive diet until slaughter at 450 kg. Early weaning had no impact on age at slaughter, fatness score, carcass wt., fat colour or meat quality, but led to significant improvements in carcass conformation (P = 0.04). At both 90 and 150 days, Parda de Montana calves were heavier than Pirenaica calves (P = 0.01). Pirenaica carcasses were heavier (P = 0.04) and their conformation scores were higher (P = 0.04) than those of Parda de Montana calves. Overall, variations in weaning strategies had similar effects on performance and carcass and meat quality.