Comparison of beef production and meat quality of Holstein bulls fattened to a lower live weight in loose and tethered housing systems

The experimental group consisted of 57 young Holstein bulls kept in the Czech Republic; 35 bulls were tethered and 22 bulls were loose housed. The aim of the study was to analyse and compare the effect of different housing systems on feedlot performance, carcass value and meat quality and their mutual relationship. The overall average values were as follows: feedlot performance parameters live weight at slaughter 434.3 kg, age at slaughter 455.8 days, total weight gain 319.3 kg, duration of fattening 342.1 days, daily weight gain 941 g; carcass value parameters dressing percentage 51.0%, net daily weight gain 482 g, weight and proportion of kidney fat 3.9 kg, 1.8% resp., weight and proportion of fat trim 2.2 kg and 2.0% resp.; meat quality parameters dry matter, fat and collagen content in muscle 23.8, 1.46 and 1.13% resp., pH24 6.08, drip loss 0.849% and remission (525 nm) 6.4%.