The Growth Patterns of Carcass Tissues Within Wholesale Cuts in Fattening Steer

Abstract

An investigation was conducted on beef carcasses, aimed at identifying the growth patterns of wholesale cuts and their tissues in steer during fattening phase. This study involved 69 grass-fed steers with a liveweight range of 300 to 600 kg. They had entered, or were progressing along, their fat deposition phase. An allometric model (Huxley, 1932) was used to study the growth patterns of carcass tissues within wholesale cuts. In general, The growths of muscle and fat within wholesale cuts followed similar patterns. Some differences in growth patterns between muscle and fat were identified on the dorsal region. The growth impetus for fat moved from the thoracic backwards to the lumbar region which was the reverse of the growth impetus for muscle. Differential growth patterns occurred between intermuscular (IM) fat and subcutaneous (SC) fat. With IM fat, its growth movement was similar to that of total fat where there was a concentration of growth in the lumbar area and thin flank as side weight increased. With SC fat, there were growth movements from the ventral region to the dorsal region of the carcass. Bone growth within wholesale cuts showed a less clear pattern.

The Growth and Distribution of Carcass Fat in Fattening Steer of Different Breeds

“…During the fattening phase, the growth impetus of fat was predominantly high relative to that of muscle and bone (Priyanto et al, 2009). This made the former tissue having an important role in determining compositional changes of a carcass and consequently the yield of beef (Mukai et al, 2004;Vieira et al, 2006).…”

“…The changes in carcass composition after the onset of fattening phase are largely attributable to the increasing proportion of fat in a carcass. Advancing in carcass fatness would be followed by increasing carcass fat but decreasing carcass muscle percentages due to the much higher growth impetus of carcass fat relative muscle and bone (Priyanto Priyanto et al, 2009). Consequently, increasing carcass fatness .…”

“…It was reported that cattle with larger frame size had better yield percentages of saleable beef, if compared to that with smaller frame size (Bidner Bidner et al, 2009). The variation in beef yield were associated primarily with maturity type differences because of the differential growth patterns of their carcass tissues (Priyanto Priyanto et al, 2009). ).…”

Muscle Growth and Distribution in Fattening Steer of Different Breeds

“…Saleable beef yield and its distribution within carcass have been intensively studied (Priyanto et al, 1999;Mukai et al, 2004;Hafi d & Priyanto, 2006, Vieira et al, 2006Priyanto et al, 2009). At lower fatness, it was reported that ca le with larger frame size had be er yield percentages of saleable beef, if compared to that with smaller frame size (Priyanto et al, 1999;Bidner et al, 2009).…”

“…At lower fatness, it was reported that ca le with larger frame size had be er yield percentages of saleable beef, if compared to that with smaller frame size (Priyanto et al, 1999;Bidner et al, 2009). Such variations in beef yield were associated primarily with maturity type diff erences because of the diff erential growth pa erns of their carcass tissues (Priyanto et al, 1999;Priyanto et al, 2009). It is the carcass' muscle contributing predominantly to the yield of saleable beef.…”