INFLUENCE OF PRODUCTION SYSTEM ON CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF F1 WAGYUX ANGUS STEERS AND HEIFERS

American Wagyu x Angus steers (n = 15) and heifers (n = 26) were finis hed to typical Japanese market weight and degree of finish using two d ifferent feeding methods. The first method (deferred) consisted of two growing/ finishing phases: a forage-based diet for approximately 8 mo nths followed by a high concentrate diet fed ad libitum for an additio nal 8 months while the second finishing method (linear) was designed t o produce a linear rate of gain for the entire 16 months that the catt le were on feed. Even though there were substantial differences in dai ly weight gain (P < 0.05) within the two growing/finishing phases, tot al weight gain for the entire 16 months was not different between the two feeding methods (P > 0.05). Cattle produced by the linear growth m ethod were superior to deferred growth cattle for carcass weight (as e stimated by cold left side weight), rib thickness, dressing percentage , marbling score, fat color, fat luster, fat quality, as well as in sc ores for meat color, brightness, firmness and texture (P < 0.05). Fat thickness was not affected by treatment (P > 0.05). These data indicat e that the linear method of production is more consistent with produci ng carcasses for the Japanese beef market.