Altering carcass composition during a winter store period does not affect the final carcass composition following zero-grazing at the end of an 18-month finishing system

Abstract

The ability to produce high quality beef carcasses cost-effectively in an 18-month finishing system is partly determined by the feeding regime during winter and the subsequent response to grass during the finishing period. Animals fed on grass silage throughout winter have been shown to develop fatter carcasses (Baker et al., 1985). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of altered carcass composition at the end of a winter store period on composition at the end of a summer grazing period.