Abstract
Marbling or intramuscular fat (IMF) is a major determinant of beef carcass value. Studies show that marbling is increased by feeding high concentrates (CONC) at finishing. We conducted three experiments to determine if early exposure to CONC would accelerate marbling deposition. In expt. 1, 40 steers (278 kg) were assigned to CONC or high quality forages (FOR) after weaning (EARLY; d 0 - 111) or prior to slaughter (LATE; d 209 to 568 kg) in a 2 x 2 factorial. Marbling scores were greater (P Beef, marbling, fatty acids, tenderness, lipogenesis
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