LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF FEEDING DURING CALFHOOD ON SUBSEQUENT PERFORMANCE IN BEEF-CATTLE (A REVIEW)

A review of the literature was undertaken to relate the fattening performance and the carcass quality traits in beef cattle to the feeding strategy applied during the first year of the calf's life. In all cases an early growth limitation causes major changes in body composition. Once allowed subsequently to recover on a liberal regime, the calves have a greater food dry matter intake and a greater food conversion efficiency than unrestricted calves. But contrary to that of animals restricted at a more advanced age, their potential for subsequent compensatory growth, particularly when restricted before weaning, is low and practically independent of the severity of the restriction. At slaughter at a fixed commercial carcass weight, the initial differences in body composition are generally no longer perceptible, thus suggesting that the feeding treatments during calfhood have no long-term effect on this parameter. It is concluded that there is no evidence that the composition of beef carcasses at slaughter can be manipulated at an early stage of development by means of feeding techniques.