Original scientific paper
THE EFFECT OF CASTRATION ON FEEDLOT PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF HOLSTEIN YOUNG BULLS
Miljenko Konjačić
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ivica Kos
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Tomislav Jakopović
; Belje d.d.,Mece,Darda
Ante Ivanković
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ivan Širić
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Nikolina Kelava Ugarković
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Vlado Kušec
; Visoko gospodarsko učilište u Križevcima, Križevci, Hrvatska
Dean Marenčić
; Visoko gospodarsko učilište u Križevcima, Križevci, Hrvatska
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of castration of Holstein young bulls on the fattening results and carcass characteristics at slaughter. Steers at average age of 420 days had significantly lower slaughter weight, hot dressing percentage and chilling loss (P<0.05). Carcass conformation score and carcass fatness were not different between steers and bulls. Bulls had significantly higher (P<0.05) net daily gain (531.43 g/day) compared to steers (461.38 g/day). Dissection of rib clip between 9th and 11th rib showed significantly higher (P <0.01) proportion of fat and connective tissue and lower proportion of muscle tissue in steers, while the proportion of bone was similar in both studied groups. It was found that steers had significantly higher marbling of the musculus longissimus dorsi at the intersection between 6th and 7th ribs (P <0.05). These results indicate the negative effect of castration of Holstein bulls on daily gain and most of the studied parameters except the chilling loss and marbling in meat.
Keywords
cattle; Holstein; castration; beef production; carcass characteristics
Hrčak ID:
97638
URI
Publication date:
4.2.2013.
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