Effects of Cattle Breeds and Dietary Energy Density on Intake, Growth, Carcass, and Meat Quality under Thai Feedlot Management System.

Simple Summary: The surging global demand for beef products has spurred farmers to adopt practices enhancing both quantity and quality, particularly in selecting cattle breeds. This study addresses a knowledge gap in understanding how beef and dairy crossbreeding respond to varying energy nutrition, which is crucial for designing effective tropical feeding regimes. Over six months with thirty-six steers, the research examined the impact of different dietary metabolizable energy densities on two crossbred beef cattle—Holstein Friesian and Charolais. Despite fewer carcass yields, Holstein Friesian crossbreds demonstrate superior eating quality, reduced meat drip loss, elevated meat iron content, and lower Warner–Bratzler shear force due to increased intramuscular fat. Meat color remains consistent across beef and dairy crossbreeding. Higher dietary energy density positively influences nutrient intake and rumen fermentation but unaffected growth performance and carcass traits. The study highlights the potential of Holstein Friesian crossbred steers in intensive beef production, providing valuable insights for achieving quality meat outcomes under the Thai feedlot management system. This study determines the effects of varying dietary metabolizable energy densities on Holstein Friesian and Charolais crossbred beef cattle in fattening phases. The research focuses on nutrient utilization, ruminal fermentation, growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality. Thirty-six steers were used in the feeding trial that lasted for six months according to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (Factor A, cattle breeds (Holstein Frisian, Charolais crossbred); B, metabolizable energy density (10.5, 11.1 and 11.8 MJ/kg DM)) with six replications. The dietary energy density had no interaction with the cattle breeds (p > 0.05). Despite fewer carcass yields, Holstein Friesian crossbreds indicate superior eating quality to Charolais crossbreds on drip loss, meat iron content, and Warner–Bratzler shear force due to increased intramuscular fat content (p < 0.05) with similar meat color (p > 0.05). Increased dietary energy density positively impacts nutrient and energy intake and rumen fermentation (p < 0.05) but did not affect growth and carcass traits (p > 0.05). This research suggests the potential of Holstein Friesian crossbreds for intensive beef production, providing valuable insights into optimal feeding strategies for achieving quality meat outcomes. On-farm feeding trials are needed to develop a practical and economical Thai beef feedlot management system [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]