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A note on dry-matter intake and composition of gain of Simmental bulls and steers fed to the same weight or age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

P. T. Anderson ,
D. R. Hawkins ,
W. G. Bergen  and
R. A. Merkel
P. T. Anderson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
D. R. Hawkins
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
W. G. Bergen
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
R. A. Merkel
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
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Abstract

Differences in dry-matter intake and composition of gain between 35 Simmental bulls and 35 Simmental steers were examined. All bulls and 15 steers were slaughtered after 167 days on food and the remaining steers were slaughtered after 224 days. Bulls ate more food daily than steers (P < 0·1) but drymatter intake per unit of metabolic body weight (kg M0·75) was not different between groups (T > 0·1). Bulls had greater estimated rates of protein accretion than steers (P < 0·001) but estimated fat accretion rates were not different. These data suggest that voluntary food intakes do not differ between bulls and steers of equal weight and indicate that bulls are leaner than steers due to greater lean tissue accumulation rather than less fat deposition.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 47 , Issue 3 , December 1988 , pp. 493 - 496
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1988

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References

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