title: Performance and carcass characteristics of bulls as influenced by exogenous hormones.
abstract: One-hundred and forty-four weanling bulls of Angus (A, n = 48), Simmental x Hereford (SH, n = 8) and Simmental (S, n = 48) breeding were either castrated, left intact, left intact and implanted with Ralgro or left intact and implanted with Synovex S. Cattle were slaughtered after 190, 246 or 315 days of high-energy feeding. The right side of each carcass was electrically stimulated. Steers were inferior to intact treatments for most performance and carcass cutability traits, but steers were superior in marbling and lean quality (P < 0·05). There were no differences (P>0·05) in dressing percentage or ribeye area per 100 kg of carcass weight among treatments. Relative to intact bulls, Ralgro and Synovex S increased carcass masculinity. Implanted intact treatments did not differ from nonimplanted intacts for feed conversion, average daily gain, yield grade characteristics, percent longissimus dorsi chemical fat and 9-10dash11th rib composition (P >0·05).
authors: Department of Animal Science, Meat Science Section, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA.
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Shackelford
authors: J D
authors: JD
authors: Crouse
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Savell
authors: H R
authors: HR
authors: Cross
authors: B D
authors: BD
authors: Schanbacher
authors: D D
authors: DD
authors: Johnson