January 12, 2023

Interpretive Summary: Growth performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid composition of Angus- and Wagyu-sired finishing cattle fed for a similar days on feed or body weight endpoint

Interpretive Summary: Growth performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid composition of Angus- and Wagyu-sired finishing cattle fed for a similar days on feed or body weight endpoint

By: Jerad R Jaborek, Franics L Fluharty, Henry N Zerby, Alejandro E Relling

Wagyu-sired steers and heifers (WA) from two different sires, selected for either growth (G) or marbling (M), and Angus-sired steers (AN) were fed for a similar days on feed (D) or to a similar final body weight (B) in two independent experiments. In experiment 1, Angus-sired steers were compared with Wagyu-sired steers and heifers when fed for a similar number of days on feed (DOF; WA-GD and WA-MD) and in experiment 2, AN were compared with Wagyu-sired steers and heifers at a similar final body weight (BW; WA-GB and WA-MB). In experiment 1, AN and WA-GD cattle had a greater rate of gain and final BW compared with WA-MD cattle. AN cattle consumed more feed compared with Wagyu-sired cattle. WA-MD had the greatest amount of kidney fat and polyunsaturated fatty acid (FA) compared with AN and WA-GD cattle. In experiment 2, AN cattle had a greater rate of gain, feed intake, with fewer DOF compared with Wagyu-sired cattle. At a similar final BW, WA-MB cattle deposited more kidney fat, marbling at the 6th- and 12th-rib, and backfat at the 6th-rib compared with AN cattle. The FA profile of the longissimus muscle from WA-MB cattle had more polyunsaturated FA, with less saturated FA compared with AN cattle. The resulting feedlot performance and carcass characteristics vary depending on the selection of Wagyu sire for growth or marbling ability.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.