Different periods of feed restriction before compensatory growth in Belgian Blue bulls: I. animal performance, nitrogen balance, meat characteristics, and fat composition.

Thirty double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls were maintained at a rate of gain of .5 kg/d during four periods of time, 115 (G2), 239 (G3), or 411 (G4) d (low growth period, LGP), before fattening (rapid growth period, RGP). Ten control animals (CG) were fed a diet rich in energy and protein. The G2, G3, and G4 were fed a diet low in energy and protein and the same diet as CG during RGP. Live weight was recorded biweekly, feed intake (FI) daily, and nitrogen balance at three times for each group. At the slaughterhouse, the 7, 8, and 9th ribs were removed to determine carcass composition, meat quality, and meat and fat composition. Compensatory growth reached a maximum 2 mo after refeeding and then decreased rapidly, leading to a sharp increase in the feed conversion ratio. Nitrogen balance was higher in compensating groups ( P < .05). Compensating animals had higher carcass connective and adipose tissue contents (P < .05) but lower meat fat content (P < .05). Cattle exhibiting compensatory growth had higher redness, yellowness, cooking losses, and drip losses, but had lower Warner-Bratzler peak shear force values. The saturated fatty acid content of the fat decreased with the duration of the LGP. During the first 2 mo after refeeding, compensatory growth in double-muscled bulls was ascribed to one or more of the following mechanisms: higher FI, lower maintenance requirements, or better efficiency of lean meat production. Compensatory growth at the expense of higher FI increased peripheral fat but decreased intramuscular fat deposition.