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Background: Farm profitability depends on raising healthy calves, which rests on successful feeding and management programs. Objective: To determine the effects of weaning weight on growth performance, feed efficiency, behavioral traits, as well as feeding cost of Holstein-Friesian and Brown Swiss calves. Methods: Sixty-seven newborn dairy calves were allocated into four weaning-weight groups [60 kg (n=18), 65 kg (n=19), 70 kg (n=18) and 75 kg (n=12)]. Body weights (BW) and measurements were recorded at birth, weaning, and four months of age. An instantaneous sampling method was used to collect behavioral data. Results: Daily weight gain of Brown Swiss calves was higher than Holsteins between weaning and four months of age (p<0.05). During pre-weaning, daily weight gain of calves weaned at 60 kg was lower than the other three groups (p<0.05). Feed efficiency of Holstein-Friesian was higher than Brown Swiss calves in the period between birth and four months of age (p<0.05). Chest depth of calves weaned at 60 kg was (p<0.05) lower compared to the other groups. Water drinking behavior during the pre-weaning period was notably higher in calves weaned at 75 kg (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that dairy calves can be weaned at 60 kg of BW without detrimental effects on performance, and their feed cost per kg weight gain is significantly lower compared to higher weaning weights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of different initial fattening ages on the fattening performance, carcass features, and meat quality traits of Holstein Friesian bulls. A total of 24 Holstein-Friesian intact males were used in the study. The bulls were allocated to the initial fattening age groups named as Young Group (8-10 months old) (YG), Middle Aged Group (12-14 months old) (MAG) and Older Group (15-17 months old) (OG) and then placed in the feedlot based on three age groups at feedlot entry. The data that has normal distribution were analysed by using the LSMM in GLM, while others were analysed by using the nonparametric Kruskal - Wallis H test. The average daily weight gain of the YG, MAG and OG were 1.09 ± 0.27 kg, 1.01 ± 0.48 kg and 0.95 ± 0.60 kg (p < 0.01), respectively. Additionally, YG was the most effective group in terms of feed efficiency ratio (FER) compared to others. However, carcass measurements and carcass weight had lower values in the YG. Effects of age at feedlot entry had also insignificant effect on the carcass traits. Besides, measurements of the carcass muscularity including area of Musculus longissimus dorsi (MLD), SEUROP carcass conformation scores of the bulls in the MAG, and OG were superior to Holstein Friesian bulls in the YG. Different initial fattening ages had no significant effects on the chemical composition of MLD samples except for percentage of protein value. In conclusion, taking animals into feedlot at early ages resulted in accelerated weight gain, higher marbled meat, and improvement of the FER of Holstein Friesian bulls reared in harsh environmental conditions of the Eastern Turkey. However, the young animals had the lowest carcass weights and carcass measurements along with muscularity parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat is a food that has an important role in human nutrition, as it contains sufficient amount of nutrients with high biological value like essential aminoacids, which are necessary for taking into the body in daily life. Efforts to increase the quality of meat, which is one of the most essential nutrients in order to sustain a healthy and balanced life, have been one of the important fields of study of scientists for many years. The studies carried out to investigate the factors affecting the quality characteristics of the meat before and after slaughtering to increase the taste and quality of the meat are still up to date. One of the most common methods applied to increase the tenderness of carcasses after slaughter and to obtain soft meat is the aging of meat. There are two types of aging methods, which are widely used in European countries and USA, dry and wet aging, and in recent years, method of dry aging in the vacuum bags has become widespread. In this study, it is aimed to examine the subject in detail by evaluating the general principles of dry and wet aging, application methods, physicochemical changes in aged meats, and the effects of aging on quality characteristics and microbial development of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antecedentes: Entre os fatores não genéticos, a idade de abate é apontada como o fator mais significativo que influencia as propriedades de qualidade da carne e a quantidade de carne bovina. Objetivo: Comparar os efeitos da idade de abate e tipos de músculos nas características de carcaça e atributos de qualidade da carne de touros da raça Holstein Friesian. Métodos: Touros foram abatidos com 18 meses (grupo jovem=YG) e 24 meses (grupo velho=GO) de idade. No final do período de engorda, foram abatidos os 30 touros (YG=14 cabeças; OG=16 cabeças) que foram engordados numa quinta privada. Em seguida, foram avaliadas as características de carcaça e qualidade da carne dos músculos Longissimus dorsi (LD) e Gluteus medius (GM). Resultados: Foi determinado que os touros podem ser abatidos mais tarde porque suas características de carcaça não foram significativamente afetadas ao longo do tempo. Embora as medidas de gordura da carcaça, como escore de marmoreio, espessura de toucinho, o escore de gordura do European Beef Carcass Classification System (SEUROP) aumentou numericamente com o avanço da idade de abate, apenas o aumento da porcentagem de rim, pelve e coração (KPH) o teor de gordura foi estatisticamente significativo (p<0,05). Touros abatidos aos 24 meses de idade tiveram área LD 13,4% maior (p<0,01) do que os do grupo YG. Os touros Holstein Friesian no grupo OG tiveram peso de abate significativamente (p<0,01) maior, bem como pesos de carcaça quente e fria. No entanto, as porcentagens de rendimento de carcaça quente e fria não foram significativamente afetadas pela idade de abate. Os valores de L* (luminosidade), a* (vermelhidão), b* (amarelamento), croma (intensidade da cor) e matiz da carne de touros da raça Holstein Friesian no grupo OG não diferiram significativamente dos touros no YG grupo. No entanto, os valores de L*, a* e croma do músculo GM foram maiores do que os do músculo LD, enquanto o valor de pH24 do músculo GM foi significativamente (p<0,01) maior do que o do músculo LD. Conclusões: Parece mais vantajoso abater touros aos 24 meses de idade para obter carcaças não apenas mais pesadas, mas também com maior pontuação de marmoreio e mais musculosas e, portanto, mais adequadas às exigências atuais do consumidor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]