Comparison between two methods of selecting 20-month steers for slaughter

A.M. Nicol

Lincoln College, Canterbury

E-Mail:

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1974, 34: 96-99

In trials involving 62 beef bred steers, a small increase in average carcass weight of 1.9% was achieved by selecting steers of a similar breed and age for slaughter on a basis of the lowest liveweight gain over the preceding two weighing periods of one week compared with those cattle selected on the basis of highest liveweight.

No measurable difference was detected in the carcass composition of the two age groups.

It is indicated that this small increase would have an economic influence on a large number of cattle.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000