Residual feed intake (RFI) is defined as the difference between an animal’s actual feed intake and its expected intake requirements for maintenance and growth. Minimal research has been conducted in the United States to determine the correlation of RFI to carcass characteristics in Bos indicus cattle. The objective of this research was to evaluate the correlation of RFI on carcass characteristics and tenderness of Brahman X Hereford steers (n = 28). The RFI to steer performance correlation values ranged from 0.06 to 0.46. There was a positive correlation (P < 0.05) between RFI and ADG from weaning to slaughter. Feed to gain ratio (FG) was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) to residual average daily gain (RADG) and residual intake and gain (RIG). The RFI to carcass characteristic correlation values ranged from 0.04 to 0.29. There was a trend (P < 0.15) of RFI being positively correlated to HCW. There was a positive correlation (P < 0.05) between FG and HCW. Dressing percentage was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) to RADG. Shear force was not correlated (P > 0.05) to RFI, and cook loss was positively correlated (P < 0.05) to RIG. Steers categorized as less inefficient (RFI < 0.5 SD above the mean) tended (P = 0.08) to have larger ribeye areas than the other RFI groups. The less efficient (RFI < 0.5 SD below the mean) steers had steaks with greater (P < 0.05) cook loss than the less inefficient and inefficient (RFI > 0.5 SD above the mean) steers.
Language
eng
File Type
pdf
File Size
523558 Bytes
Date Available
January 13, 2017
LC Number
T378.24 M764c
Rights
The right to download or print any of the pages of this thesis (Material) is granted by the copyright owner only for personal or classroom use. The author retains all proprietary rights, including copyright ownership. Any reproduction or editing or other use of this Material by any means requires the express written permission of the copyright owner. Except as provided above, or any use beyond what is allowed by fair use (Title 17 Section 107 U.S.C.), you may not reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute any Material from this web site in any physical or digital form without the permission of the copyright owner of the Material. Inquiries regarding any further use of these materials should be addressed to Administration, Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 700 University Blvd. Kingsville, Texas 78363-8202, (361)593-3416.
