Abstract

Feeding steers for 10 weeks on the residual turnip bulbs left after grazing the green tops off with lambs plus low carotenoid supplements, reduced carotenoid concentrations in the carcass fat by 38-43% and fat colour by 14-31% compared with steers grazing pasture. The steers on the turnip bulbs were fed a daily supplement of 0.5 x 10-1 IU of vitamin A in pelleted barley grain plus pasture silage, hay, and malting corms. The turnip bulbs comprised approximately 42-47% of the diet. The growth rate of the steers on turnip bulbs was higher (P < 0.001) than for steers on pasture (0.71 kg head-1day-1 versus 0.45 kg head-1 day-1). There were no effects of grazing the steers on turnip bulbs on the other meat characteristics measured, including the odour and taste.

TW, Knight, and AF Death

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 60, Hamilton, 143-146, 2000