Linear body measurements and muscle distribution in F1 Holstein x Friesian intact males.
Influence of sire, dietary regimen and slaughter weight on wither height, body depth, heart girth, hip width and percentage of total muscle in each of nine commercial cuts of F1 Holstein X Friesian bulls (N = 260) was studied. Sires were full-blooded or percentage Holstein; dams were commercial and purebred Danish Friesians. The young bulls received 100, 75, 50 or 25% concentrates, with the remainder of the diet provided in the form of silage. Animals were serial-slaughtered at 340, 470 or 600 kg. Sire was a significant source of variation in many of the body measurements and muscle distributional variables that were evaluated. It was noted, however, that sire differences in percentage of total dissected muscle in Group III cuts (rib + loin + round + hindshank) of intact male progeny were of the order of 1% or less. Sire X diet and sire X slaughter weight interactions were statistically significant in some analyses. Muscular development in the neck region was more pronounced when bulls were fed a low-concentrate diet, rather than high levels of concentrates. Percentages of total muscle in the forequarter were highest (P less than .01) for the 470- and 600-kg bulls. Thus feeding bulls to heavier weights had an adverse effect (P less than .01) on percentage of total muscle in Group III cuts. Dietary influence on linear body measurements and muscle distribution in young, Holstein-cross bulls was negligible.
D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*