Effects of feeding system and slaughter age on the growth and carcass characteristics of tropical-breed steers

This study aimed to compare the growth performances and carcass characteristics of tropical-breed steers reared in 2 contrasted feeding systems (indoor vs. pasture) and slaughtered at different ages (early vs. late). A total of 309 Creole steers (growing at an initial BW of 173 +/- 3 kg and an initial age of 252 +/- 4 d) were used over a continuous 12-yr study. Indoor steers were housed in a cattle shed, fed fresh-cut grass plus concentrate, and slaughtered at 14.5 or 17.1 +/- 0.1 mo of age. Pasture steers were pasture grazed without supplemental feed, and slaughtered at 17.6 and 21.2 +/- 0.1 mo of age. Indoor-fed steers had a greater ADG (786 vs. 517 +/- 29 g.d(-1); P < 0.0001) and more carcass fat (164 vs. 145 +/- 4.5 g.kg(-1); P = 0.001) than pasture-fed steers. Late-slaughtered steers had decreased ADG (630 vs. 673 +/- 27 g.d(-1); P = 0.001) but greater dressing percentages (hot dressing percentage = 55.7 vs. 54.7 +/- 0.34%; chilled dressing percentage = 54.5 vs. 53.4 +/- 0.34%; P < 0.0001) than early-slaughtered steers. The interaction between feeding system and slaughter age was significant for carcass tissue composition. Whole-carcass muscle content was greater in late-slaughtered steers than early-slaughtered steers, especially in pasture-fed steers (720 vs. 698 +/- 6.0 g.kg(-1); P < 0.0001), but less so in indoor-fed steers (707 vs. 700 +/- 5.9 g.kg(-1); P = 0.046). Furthermore, increasing slaughter age had no effect on carcass fat in indoor-fed steers (162 vs. 166 +/- 4.8 g.kg(-1); P = 0.342), but decreased carcass fat in pasture-fed steers (150 vs. 140 +/- 5.0 g.kg(-1); P = 0.014). The results showed that slaughter age and feeding system are 2 major factors that independently affect most of the growth and carcass traits of tropical-breed steers but jointly influence tissue deposition. Our study found that in tropical-breed steers that are grazing, late slaughtering grazing steers increased carcass muscle content without extra fat, thus yielding a carcass quality better suited to consumer choices.