The effects of composition of gain during a winter store period on carcass composition determined by Velocity of Sound Scanning (VOS) at spring and autumn in beef steers

Abstract

Restriction of feed during the winter store period is an important part of current beef systems to exploit compensatory growth from cheap grazed grass. Previous studies have demonstrated that the composition of finished carcasses can be altered by the type of diet fed during the winter feed restriction period (Baker et al, 1985). The aim of this study is to examine the effects of body composition at the end of the winter store period on the composition of gain during the subsequent grass feeding period