ORIGINAL PAPER
Effect of production system on performance traits,
carcass and meat quality in Brown Swiss young
cattle
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1
Estación Agrícola Experimental, CSIC,
Apdo, 788, 24080 León, Spain
2
Estación Tecnológica de la Carne, ITACyL,
Apdo, 58, 37770 Guijuelo-Salamanca, Spain
Publication date: 2006-01-06
Corresponding author
A. Cerdeño
Estación Agrícola Experimental, CSIC,
Apdo, 788, 24080 León, Spain
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2006;15(1):17-24
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Performance, carcass and meat quality were assessed in 3 groups of Brown Swiss male calves, all
of them suckled by their dams: groups M200 and M250 were exclusively milk-fed and slaughtered
at 200 or 250 kg, respectively, and G400 group was supplemented with grain and slaughtered at
400 kg after a short finishing period. Increasing weight in milk-fed animals led to an increase in
dressing percentage and conformation score, and a decrease in muscle content with an increase in
dissectible fat in the rib, with no repercussions on meat quality. G400 group showed higher values
in compactness index, percentage of high-priced cuts and dissectible fat content than the lighter
milk-fed groups. Regarding meat quality, the only remarkable difference in grain-fed animals was a
higher a* index, with no detectable differences in sensory traits.
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