Effects of Sex Condition and Diet on Growth and Carcass Characteristics

Authors

John D. Crouse, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center
Calvin L. Ferrell, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center
Larry V. Cundiff, U.S. Meat Animal Research CenterFollow

Date of this Version

1985

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published in Beef Research Program Progress Report (1985) No. 2: 56-58

Abstract

Studies quantifying the differences between bulls and steers have generally shown that bulls gain more rapidly and more efficiently than steers and produce leaner carcasses. The average of these studies gave bulls a 17 percent advantage in average daily gain and a 13 percent advantage in converting feed to liveweight gain. Feed efficiencies reported in these studies were determined on animals fed to similar ages or weights. The effects of sex condition on feed efficiency of animals fed to a similar fat composition or marbling endpoint needs to be examined.