Vitamin A administration at birth promotes calf growth and intramuscular fat development in Angus beef cattle

Table 6 Ultrasound measurement, carcass composition and meat quality of steers received different doses of vitamin A treatments at birth

Response	0 IU (n = 9)	150,000 IU (n = 7)	300,000 IU (n = 9)	SE	P-value
Ultrasound at transition to the finishing stage
IMF, %	3.95^b	4.93^a	4.34^ab	0.26	0.036
Rib fat, cm	0.38	0.38	0.41	0.03	0.659
Rump fat, cm	0.53	0.53	0.43	0.05	0.240
REA, cm²	53.5	56.1	58.3	2.21	0.337
Carcass characteristics
Carcass weight, kg	341.0	357.0	349.5	3.87	0.527
Dressing percent, %	59.5	59.1	59.8	0.29	0.468
Marbling score^*	583.3^b	671.7^a	610.0^ab	20.20	0.016
KPH, %	2.34	2.18	2.15	0.14	0.661
REA, cm²	82.2	85.6	84.2	3.87	0.565
Back fat, cm	1.29	1.46	1.27	0.06	0.421
Yield grade	3.02	3.16	2.96	0.09	0.921
Meat quality
Cooking loss, %	20.3	20.6	21.5	1.28	0.793
SSF, kg	8.45	10.27	9.66	1.12	0.637
Meat composition
CP%	23.4	23.3	23.9	0.38	0.438
IMF%	6.33	7.49	6.94	0.69	0.572

^*500 = small 0; 600 = modest 0; 700 = moderate 0
^a-bMeans in the same row with different letters differ significantly (P < 0.05)

ISSN: 2049-1891