Carcass evaluation of cattle finished on alfalfa/grass pastures alone or supplemented with barley

Abstract

Yearling cattle fed pasture-only for the entire grazing season were compared with cattle receiving pasture plus steam-rolled barley (SRB; 4 kg head-1 d-1) or pasture plus SRB (4 kg head-1 d-1) treated with Tween 80 at a rate of 4 kg t-1, for 74 d prior to slaughter. Heifers were more likely (P = 0.015) to grade A or higher than steers. Feeding supplemental grain on pasture increased pasture gains (P < 0.001) and hot carcass weight (P < 0.001) but did not (P > 0.05) improve carcass quality, chemical analysis, shear force, carcass value or gross return per head. Treatment of SRB with Tween-80 did not influence (P > 0.05) cattle performance or carcass quality. From the results reported in this study, it is possible to finish cattle on pasture to Canada A grade standards.