Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2017
Meat from Holstein-Friesian bulls, which are bred for dairy traits, is generally regarded as low quality and is usually destined for the commodity (mince) market. However, given their ready availability as a by-product from the dairy herd, it is important to determine if meat from these animals would be suited to higher-priced markets. Furthermore, meat from bulls is generally considered to be lower quality than that from steers, though there is a paucity of data comparing meat from both sources. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of slaughter weight on meat quality characteristics of Holstein-Friesian bulls and steers offered a cereal-based ration.