One hundred fourteen high-lean growth gilts (72.5 kg BW) were used to determine the apparent digestible lysine requirement for maximum growth performance and carcass protein deposition rate from 72.5 to 136 kg BW. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with initial BW used to establish blocks. Six dietary treatments were included, ranging from .44 to .94% (.10% increments) appare...

The present study was aimed to compare the developmental changes of carcass composition, meat quality characteristics and organ weight in pigs of different breeds. Six pigs (sex balance) of each breed were slaughtered at 35, 80 and 125 days of age, respectively. The carcass was chilled and the left carcass side was dissected into bone, lean meat, fat and skin; additionally, organ weight and mea...

Sires representing seven diverse breeds were mated to Hereford cows over four years and the progeny slaughtered. Highly marbled Jersey and Wagyu crossbred cattle had softer fat (6% lower melting point) than the other breeds. The Angus crosses marbled like Jersey and Wagyu, but had harder fat similar to the very lean Belgian Blue. Hereford, South Devon and Limousin crosses had harder fat than An...

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate models for predicting the carcass composition of lambs. Forty male lambs of two different breeds were included in our analysis. The lambs were slaughtered and their hot carcass weight was obtained. After cooling for 24 hours, the subcutaneous fat thickness was measured between the 12th and 13th rib and the total breast bone tissue thickness was ...

The aim of the study was to establish the relationship between a calpastatin gene (CAST) polymorphism, the ryanodine receptor gene (RYR1) polymorphism and carcass/meat quality traits in crossbred pigs. No significant differences in the analyzed pigs were found between genotypes CC and CT at the locus RYR1 and CD and DD at the locus CAST/MspI in terms of carcass and meat quality. However, a sign...

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of selected factors affecting fatty acids (FA) composition in pig fat. In the experiment, the influence of nutrition, gender, carcass weight, lean meat proportion (LMP) and intramuscular fat (IMF) were monitored. The effect of diet, specifically the influence of added linseed or corn on the fatty acids composition in the backfat was studied in pig...

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic associations of prolificacy traits with other traits under selection in the Finnish Landrace and Large White populations. The prolificacy traits evaluated were total number of piglets born, number of stillborn piglets, piglet mortality during suckling, age at first farrowing, and first farrowing interval. Genetic correlations were estimated wi...

Data on 99 young bulls, which were the progeny of matings of either double muscle bulls and normal cows (DMx) or normal bulls and normal cows (N) born over three calving seasons, were analyzed to compare the carcass characteristics and lean yield of yearling DMx and N bulls. DMx carcasses had larger (P < 0.001) ribeye areas and cutability but smaller (P < 0.001) grade fat and average fat thickn...

Cancer cachexia induces host protein wastage but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Branched-chain amino acids play a regulatory role in the modulation of both protein synthesis and degradation in host tissues. Leucine, an important amino acid in skeletal muscle, is higher oxidized in tumor-bearing animals. A leucine-supplemented diet was used to analyze the effects of Walker 256 tumor growt...

Improvement of USDA Select grade beef is essential for consumer acceptance of leaner beef. Seventy-two large- and medium-framed steer calves of mixed breeding were used in two experiments to evaluate feedlot performance, carcass composition, and beef palatability. Interactions of dietary energy level (corn concentrate or corn silage), breed type (Angus or Simmental), carcass electrical stimulat...