NAKEV, J., T. POPOVA and V. VASILEVA, 2009. Influence of dietary Betaine supplementation on the growth performance and carcass characteristics in male female growing-finishing pigs. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 15: 263-268 A study with 20 pigs (10 males and 10 females) of the genetic population Danube White x Landrace was carried out at the Agricultural Institute – Shumen. Both male and female pigs we...

One hundred fourteen high-lean growth gilts (72.5 kg BW) were used to determine the apparent digestible lysine requirement for maximum growth performance and carcass protein deposition rate from 72.5 to 136 kg BW. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with initial BW used to establish blocks. Six dietary treatments were included, ranging from .44 to .94% (.10% increments) appare...

Carcass measurements were taken on 1,292 steers and collected by the American Shorthorn Association. The sires were purebred or appendix-registered Shorthorn. Because all dams were not Shorthorn, genetic fractions of breeds of origin were determined for each dam. Measurements for hot carcass weight; dressing percentage; fat thickness; ribeye area; kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (KPH); marbling; ...

In a 4-yr study, early-weaned Simmental steers (n = 192) of known genetics were individually fed to determine EPD, performance, and carcass measurements explaining variation in carcass value and profitability across incremental days on feed (DOF) when sorted by HCW, calculated yield grade (YG), or at their highest profit endpoint (BEST). Steers were weaned at 88.0 +/- 1.1 d of age, pen-fed a hi...

Ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) improves swine production efficiency by redirecting nutrients to favor muscle accretion rather than fat deposition. In the present study, the time-dependent effect of RAC feeding on performance, plasma urea N (PUN) concentrations, and carcass traits of finishing pigs were evaluated. In a 28-d growth study, 80 barrows (average initial BW = 69.4 ± 7.9 kg) were assi...

To evaluate different methods of estimating bovine carcass composition, seventy yearling bulls of the "Asturiana de los Valles" beef breed were slaughtered and their carcass composition estimated by a commercial dissection of the right half-carcass and by tissular dissection of the 6th and 10th rib of the left half-carcass. Correlation and regression analyses were used to identify the most accu...

A genome scan to detect QTL influencing growth and carcass-related traits was conducted in a Charolais x Holstein crossbred cattle population. Phenotypic measurements related to growth and carcass traits were made on the 235 second-generation crossbred males of this herd (F2 and reciprocal backcrosses), which were born in 4 consecutive annual cohorts. Traits measured in vivo were related to bir...

The experiment was designed to validate the use of ultrasound to evaluate body composition in mature beef cows. Both precision and accuracy of measurement were assessed. Cull cows (n = 87) selected for highly variable fatness were used. Two experienced ultrasound technicians scanned and assigned BCS to each cow on 2 consecutive days. Ultrasound traits were backfat thickness (UBFT), LM area (ULM...

The most valuable lean cuts from Iberian pigs are the hams, forelegs, and loins, which yield high quality cured meat products. This study aimed to assess the correlation between body composition measurements taken in vivo by ultrasonography in Iberian pigs and those taken on the carcass, which were then used to develop predictive models to estimate the weight and yield of these cuts. Before sla...

The experiment was designed to validate the use of ultrasound to evaluate body composition in mature beef cows. Both precision and accuracy of measurement were assessed. Cull cows (n = 87) selected for highly variable fatness were used. Two experienced ultrasound technicians scanned and assigned BCS to each cow on 2 consecutive days. Ultrasound traits were backfat thickness (UBFT), LM area (ULM...