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Four Belgian Blue double-muscled type (BBDM) bulls, four Belgian Blue dual-purpose type (BBDP) bulls and four Holstein bulls were used in a fattening trial in order to relate differences in the extent of muscle development and adiposity to differences in digestibility, endocrine status, protein and lipid metabolism. The larger muscle development in BBDM animals was associated with a trend to higher nitrogen retention, higher food conversion efficiency (p < 0.05) and lower apparent digestibility (p < 0.05). No difference was found between the groups for plasma glucose concentration. Higher creatinine, lower alpha-amino nitrogen, lower triglycerides and higher non-esterified fatty acid plasma levels were observed in BBDM as compared to Holstein bulls (p < 0.05), the BBDP group being intermediate. A trend to a higher cholesterol plasma level was found in BBDM animals. There was no difference between the three groups in plasma fatty acid composition, except for the C14:0 content. Some of the differences in plasma metabolites were related to carcass composition and endocrine regulation, a decrease in muscle development and an increase in adiposity being associated with lower growth hormone production (p < 0.05) and higher insulin (p < 0.05) and IGF secretions. The insulin/growth hormone ratio at the end of the fattening period was 0.0011, 0.0018 and 0.0069 in BBDM, BBDP and Holstein bulls, respectively, and was directly associated with fat deposition.

Six Belgian Blue bulls (double-muscled type) and six Friesian bulls were offered a fattening diet for 34 weeks. Plasma samples were obtained once a week and also every 20 min over a 24 h period, 7 weeks before slaughter. No differences were observed between the breeds in plasma glucose, urea and free amino nitrogen concentrations, while creatinine was significantly higher in the Belgian Blue bulls. Tri-iodothyronin, tetra-iodothyronin, insulin-like growth factor 1, insulin and testosterone concentrations were higher in the Holstein group. In contrast, the Belgian Blue bulls appeared to produce more growth hormone. The slaughter weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage and proportion of lean meat were significantly higher in the Belgian Blue group. The characteristics of muscle mass (carcass weight, dressing percentage and proportion of lean meat) were positively correlated with creatinine and with the total peak area or peak amplitude of growth hormone. The insulin concentration was positively correlated with the proportion of adipose tissue in the carcass and negatively correlated with the proportion of muscle. There were no correlations between the carcass characteristics and insulin-like growth factor 1 or testosterone. No further information was provided when the ratios of the hormones were correlated with carcass characteristics.