No abstract

Ribeye steaks (Longissimus muscle) and ground beef from 15 Angus or Angus ϫ Hereford steers slaughtered at weights of 480-500 kg were evaluated for proximate composition, color, ␤-carotene content and consumer preference. Three groups of five animals were finished on annual ryegrass pasture (Lolium multiflorum), ryegrass and ''Coastal'' bermudagrass hay (Cynodon hybrid), or a feedlot diet. ␤-carotene content of ribeye steaks and ground beef was higher (p Ͻ 0.05) for the forage finished animals than those finished in the feedlot. There was no difference in scores from consumer panels (n ϭ 80) for steaks from feedlot or pasture finished animals, but scores for ground beef from cattle finished on the feedlot diet were higher than other treatments (pϽ0.05).