Table 3.
Performance traits of the cattle (n = 15) from the three pasture-based systems over 3 years.
| Variable | PP | GWC | MG | SED | P (F2,4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weaning weight (kg) | 328 | 324 | 317 | 7.0 | 0.352 |
| Slaughter weight (kg) | 662 | 674 | 658 | 27.5 | 0.844 |
| Days to slaughter | 643 | 656 | 661 | 16.5 | 0.573 |
| LWG (kg) | 348 | 348 | 341 | 18.6 | 0.909 |
| Body condition score | 4.07 | 4.00 | 3.95 | 0.155 | 0.766 |
| Fat score | 4.73 | 4.73 | 4.40 | 0.455 | 0.720 |
| Carcass weight (kg) | 346 | 348 | 344 | 13.11 | 0.954 |
| Kill out (%) | 52.2 | 51.7 | 52.4 | 0.48 | 0.433 |
| Shelf life (days of RD) | 13.1 | 11.5 | 12.3 | 0.47 | 0.068 |
| Tenderness (kg) | 4.94 | 4.86 | 4.84 | 0.139 | 0.744 |
| RDI (%/100 g FW) | 29.1 | 29.2 | 29.4 | 0.22 | 0.409 |
| kg CO2e/RDI% | 0.215a | 0.191b | 0.231a | 0.0079 | 0.018 |
Abbreviations: PP = permanent pasture; GWC = grass and white clover; MG = short-term monoculture grass ley; LWG = liveweight gain at pasture; RD = Retail display; RDI = recommended daily intake; FW = Fresh weight; CO2e = Carbon dioxide equivalents.
abValues within a row with different superscripts differ significantly at P < 0.05.