发酵蛋白饲料对生长育肥猪生产性能和猪肉品质的影响

本试验探讨了在日粮中使用发酵蛋白原料替代普通蛋白原料对生长育肥猪生产性能和猪肉品质的影响。结果表明,以发酵豆粕、发酵棉粕为主要蛋白原料的育肥猪无抗饲料配方产品与常规饲料相比,能显著提高育肥猪末重及平均日增重;能使每头猪养殖增收78.72元,提高毛利33.98%;能显著降低猪肉剪切力和滴水损失,提高猪肉氨基酸水平,改善了肉品质,提高了猪肉营养。     

Effects of trailer design on animal welfare parameters and carcass and meat quality of three Pietrain crosses being transported over a short distance

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of trailer design on the stress responses and meat quality traits of 3 different pig crosses: 50% Pietrain breeding with HAL^Nn (50Nn), 50% Pietrain breeding with HAL^NN (50NN) and 25% Pietrain breeding with HAL^NN genotype (25NN). Market barrows (n=360), as a subset of 12 trailer loads of pigs, were transported from farm to slaughter on 6 dates in 2009 for 45 min in either a pot-belly (PB) or flat-deck (FD) trailer, with 120 pigs/genetic group being represented. Temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) were recorded by data loggers mounted in both trailers. Behaviours and handler interventions were video-taped at loading, unloading and in lairage. At exsanguination, blood samples were collected for the assessment of lactate, cortisol, creatine kinase (CK), haptoglobin and Pig-MAP concentrations. Meat quality was measured in the longissimus dorsi (LD), semimembranosus (SM) and adductor (AD) muscles of all pigs. Temperatures were warmer in compartments 6 and 11 at loading (P<0.001), compartment 11 during travelling (P=0.05), and in compartment 5 at unloading (P=0.01) of the PB trailer. Pigs unloaded from the FD trailer overlapped more (P<0.001), whereas (P<0.001) the frequency of jamming was noted for pigs unloaded from the PB trailer. Pigs with 50% Pietrain genetics overlapped and jammed more (P<0.001) than pigs with 25% Pietrain genetics, regardless of HAL status. Greater (P=0.03) CK levels were found in 50Nn pigs transported in the PB trailer, while 50Nn and 50NN pigs had greater (P=0.028) lactate levels than 25NN pigs. Carcasses from 50Nn and 50NN pigs were leaner (P=0.04), and the skin damage score was lower (P=0.04) in 25NN carcasses. Overlap-type bruises were greater (P=0.02) in pigs transported in the FD trailer. Pigs transported in the PB trailer had greater (P=0.05) pHu in the SM and AD muscles (P=0.013). Except for pHu in the SM muscle, all meat quality parameters were affected by the Hal gene (P=0.04). The use of a PB trailer for short distance transportation of pigs to slaughter negatively affected stress responses and meat quality. The greater proportion of Pietrain genetics in the selection resulted in leaner carcasses, but also in pigs being more difficult to handle. Crossbreeding appeared to have a greater impact on animal welfare and meat quality than vehicle type, but trailer type may emphasize these negative genotype-related defects.     

Effects of supplemental humic substances on growth performance, blood characteristics and meat quality in finishing pigs

A total of forty-eight finishing pigs were used to determine the effects of humic substances (HS) on growth performance, blood characteristics, and meat quality. The finishing pigs were assigned randomly by weight to three treatments. The dietary treatments included: 1) Control (CON; basal diet), 2) HS1 (basal diet + 5% humic substances) and 3) HS2 (basal diet + 10% humic substances). Results of the whole experimental period showed that addition of 10% HS to the diet, significantly increased average daily gain (ADG) and gain/feed (G:F) (P < 0.05). At the end of the experiment, the relative lymphocyte counts (% of total white blood cells) of pigs fed HS2 diet were higher (P < 0.05) than that of pigs fed CON diet. The Minolta color parameter a of pigs fed HS2 was similar to that of pigs fed HS1, however, it was higher (P < 0.05) than that of pigs fed CON diet. The inclusion of either 5% or 10% HS significantly decreased backfat thickness (P < 0.05). The marbling score was increased significantly (P < 0.05) when diets were supplemented with HS at a level of 10%. The results of this study suggest that HS might be utilized as a feed additive in the diet. It could improve growth performance, relative lymphocyte counts and meat quality.     

Growth,carcass, fiber type,and meat quality characteristics in Large White pigs with different live weights

The aim of this study was to compare the growth, carcass, histochemical, and meat quality characteristics in Large White pig groups that were categorized by live weight (Heavy and Light) and type I fiber percentage (High and Low), a procedure which resulted in four groups (Heavy-High, Heavy-Low, Light-High, and Light-Low). As expected, the Heavy group showed heavier live weight (114 vs. 94.7 kg, P<0.001) and larger loin eye area (53.3 vs. 47.8 cm², P<0.001), as well as, higher total number (1,223,000 vs. 1,140,000, P<0.05) and greater mean value cross-sectional area (CSA; 4031 vs. 3798 μm²P<0.05) of muscle fibers than the Light group. However, there were no significant differences in start and finish days among the groups (P>0.05). Heavier pigs harboring a higher percentage of type I fibers (HH) exhibited a similar mean CSA (3894 vs. 4101 μm²) and total number (1,249,000 vs. 1,198,000) of muscle fibers, even though these pigs had a greater CSA of type I fibers (3181 vs. 2719 μm², P<0.05) and a smaller CSA of type IIB fibers (4048 vs. 4457 μm², P<0.05) compared to heavier pigs harboring a lower percentage of fiber type I (HL). Both the HL and Light-Low groups exhibited a rapid decline of muscle pH at the early postmortem period (5.90 and 5.85 vs. 6.08, P<0.05), paler surfaces (43.07 and 43.55 vs. 40.73_,P<0.05), and higher degrees of fluid loss by exudation (6.26 and 6.39 vs. 4.22%, P<0.05) compared to the HH group due to their muscle fiber type composition. Thus, the HH pigs showed better meat quality characteristics without significant differences in growth and carcass performance compared to the HL pigs. Therefore, selection for increased live weight at the same age and muscle fiber characteristics, especially the increased type I fiber CSA and proportion, is one of the relevant indicators to improve and control meat quality without reducing the growth and carcass performance.     

Effect of breed on fattening performance, slaughter and meat quality characteristics of Awassi and Morkaraman lambs

The influence of breed on fattening performance, slaughter and meat quality traits was studied in Awassi and Morkaraman male lambs at approximately 8 months of age. All of the groups were fed a diet consisting of concentrate mixture offered ad libitum, and 300 g of grass hay per lamb per day during 60-day fattening period. Initial live weight, final live weight, daily weight gain and feed conversion efficiency (concentrate and hay consumption for 1 kg of live weight gain) were 39.63 kg, 55.08 kg, 0.258 kg and 6.37 for Awassi; 40.54 kg, 55.58 kg, 0.234 kg and 6.77 for Morkaraman, respectively. The effect of breed on fattening performance and slaughter traits except for LD area was not significant. In addition, meat colour parameters (L = lightness, a = redness, b = yellowness, H = hue angle and C = chroma), pH values, drip loss and sensory attributes were not affected by breed in present study. A significant muscle effect was observed for instrumental measurements of some meat quality characteristics as meat colour parameters (L, a and C), collagen, drip loss, pH, moisture and protein content, WBS, and for some sensory attributes (tenderness, juiciness, acceptability and number of chewing). Results of this study indicate that fattening performance, slaughter and meat quality traits were similar between Awassi and Morkaraman male lambs.     

Relationship between residual energy intake and the behaviour of growing pigs from three genetic lines

Residual metabolizable energy intake (RMEI) is the difference between metabolizable energy intake (MEI) and predicted production and maintenance requirements. In growing pigs from three genetic lines, namely Genex Meishan-derived dam line (GM), Synthetic Genex 3000 (SG) and purebred Large White (LW), RMEI was determined and related to behaviour by factorial Partial Least Squares analysis. Behaviour was measured by observations of daily behaviour in the pen, postures, feeding behaviour, aggressive behaviour after mixing and ease of handling at weighing. The RMEI obtained for the GM pigs was lower (P = 0.003) than that of the two other lines studied (LW and SG). This difference may result from inaccuracy in the estimation of requirements. A small proportion of these differences were explained by differences in behaviour. Indeed, standing posture, time spent in the feeder, toy manipulation, aggressive and locomotor behaviour explained part of the variation in RMEI, presumably because an increase in these physical activities induces higher energy expenditure. Vocalisations during manipulations at weighing were the only behaviour related to stress that influenced RMEI.     

Effects of dietary protein/energy ratio on growth performance,carcass trait,meat quality,and plasma metabolites in pigs of different genotypes

Background

The protein/energy ratio is important for the production performance and utilization of available feed resources by animals. Increased protein consumption by mammals leads to elevated feed costs and increased nitrogen release into the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary protein/energy ratio on the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and plasma metabolites of pigs of different genotypes.

Methods

Bama mini-pigs and Landrace pigs were randomly assigned to two dietary treatment groups (Chinese conventional diet with low protein/energy ratio or National Research Council diet with high protein/energy ratio; n = 24 per treatment) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Blood and muscle samples were collected at the end of the nursery, growing, and finishing phases.

Results

We observed significant interactions (P < 0.05) between breed and diet for total fat percentage, intramuscular fat (IMF) content, protein content in biceps femoris (BF) muscle, and plasma urea nitrogen (UN) concentration in the nursery phase; for average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), dry matter, IMF content in psoas major (PM) muscle, and plasma total protein and albumin concentrations in the growing phase; and for drip loss and plasma UN concentration in the finishing phase. Breed influenced (P < 0.05) growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality, but not plasma metabolites. Throughout the trial, Landrace pigs showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, dressing percentage, lean mass rate, and loin-eye area than did Bama mini-pigs, but significantly lower (P < 0.05) feed/gain ratio, fat percentage, backfat thickness, and IMF content. Dietary protein/energy ratio influenced the pH value, chemical composition of BF and PM muscles, and plasma activities of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and plasma concentration of UN.

Conclusions

Compared with Landrace pigs, Bama mini-pigs showed slower growth and lower carcass performance, but had better meat quality. Moreover, unlike Landrace pigs, the dietary protein/energy ratio did not affect the growth performance of Bama mini-pigs. These results suggest that, in swine production, low dietary protein/energy ratio may be useful for reducing feed costs and minimizing the adverse effects of ammonia release into the environment.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40104-015-0036-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

添加苜蓿草粉对育肥猪生产性能和肉品质的影响

本研究旨在通过为期3个月的舍内连续饲喂试验,探讨在饲粮中添加苜蓿(Medicago sativa)草粉对育肥猪生产性能和肉品质的影响。试验选取60kg左右、胎次相近、体重相近、健康状况良好的杜×长×大育肥猪160头,公母各半。本试验共设置5个处理,即对照组和试验1、2、3、4组,每组4个重复,每个重复8头猪。饲粮中苜蓿草粉水平依次为0、5%、10%、15%和20%。结果表明,1)10%苜蓿草粉添加量显著(P0.05)提高了育肥猪的末重,且10%和15%苜蓿草粉添加量显著(P0.05)提高了育肥猪的日增重,显著(P0.05)降低了育肥猪的料重比。2)当苜蓿草粉添加量为10%、15%和20%时,猪眼肌面积显著(P0.05)高于其他各处理,当苜蓿草粉添加量为5%、10%和15%时,育肥猪肌内脂肪含量显著(P0.05)高于其他各处理,但是各苜蓿草粉添加量对猪肉的pH、系水率、熟肉率等指标均无显著影响(P0.05)。综合认为,苜蓿草粉添加量对育肥猪的生产性能和肉品质有一定的改善,其中10%的添加量效果最好。     

不同屠宰体重商品猪胴体性能、肉品质及相关关系研究

测定了体重70～140 kg阶段120头商品猪的胴体品质和肉质特性,分析了商品猪胴体性能、肉质性状随体重的变化规律及相关程度,为确定适宜上市屠宰体重提供依据。结果表明:70～100 kg体重阶段,随体重增大,平均背膘厚、眼肌面积、皮脂率、肉色和大理石纹显著升高,后腿比例、瘦肉率、骨骼率、L和b值显著降低。胴体和肉质性状间相关程度有强有弱,相关系数有正有负。相同性状间有较强的正相关,相反性状间有较强的负相关。在70～140 kg阶段,胴体重、胴体直长、胴体斜长、眼肌面积、平均背膘厚、瘦肉率、皮脂率、骨骼率、肉色和L值与体重之间呈显著的回归关系,其他指标与体重间的线性相关不显著。     

辽宁绒山羊羔羊肉用性能和羊肉品质研究

本研究选择24只辽宁绒山羊羔羊,年龄90±3.5日龄,体重15±0.62 kg,公母各半。试验动物分成3组,1组为高能低蛋白组,饲喂1号日粮;2组为高能高蛋白组,饲喂2号日粮;3组为对照组,饲喂3号日粮。连续试验5个月,每月测量体重1次、屠宰1次,研究体增重、屠宰性能和肉品质指标。结果表明,试验1组和2组日增重均高于对照组,其最高峰分别在第4月龄和第5月龄出现,而对照组则在第3月龄出现。各组育肥后羊绒细度均无显著变化。试验1、2组屠宰率、净肉率、眼肌面积均高于对照组,其中2组与对照组差异显著（P＜0.05）。试验1组和2组肾周脂肪重均高于对照组,其肾周脂肪占胴体重比例高于对照组。试验1、2组GR值高于对照组,差异不显著（P＞0.05）。试验1、2组的嫩度值高于对照组;各组的肉色、失水率和熟肉率均差异不显著（P＞0.05）;对照组失水率低于试验1、2组;对照组熟肉率低于试验1、2组,但差异不显著（P＞0.05）。     

地方品种猪肉品质及其膳食营养论述

随着社会经济的快速发展与人民生活水平的不断提高,消费者对肉制品的食品安全、风味与口感、营养与健康有了更高的要求.大量试验研究表明,我国地方猪种的肉品质相比长白猪、大约克猪、杜洛克猪、杜长大猪等国外品种品系,有着明显优势.文章对我国地方品种猪肉品质的优势特点及其膳食营养和对人体健康的影响进行综述.     

辽宁绒山羊羯羊育肥性能和羊肉品质研究

本研究选择24只10月龄初始体重37.21±0.45 kg的辽宁绒山羊羯羊。试验动物分成3组,1组为高能高蛋白组,2组为中能中蛋白组,3组为对照组。连续育肥5个月,每月屠宰1次,研究增重、屠宰性能和肉品质指标。结果显示,试验1组和2组日增重、屠宰率均显著（P＜0.05）高于对照组;胴体净肉率、眼肌面积、肾周脂肪量、肾周脂肪占胴体比、GR值均极显著（P＜0.01）高于对照组;试验1组和2组剪切力显著（P＜0.05）低于对照组;试验1组的耗料增重比最低,试验2组饲料成本和单位增重成本最低。研究表明,辽宁绒山羊羯羊经过育肥,屠宰性能、肉质品质均得到改善;效益分析表明,中等能量中等蛋白水平日粮育肥羯羊经济效益最好。     

不同能量水平日粮添加抗氧化剂对生长猪生长性能及肉质的影响

文章旨在研究不同能量水平日粮添加抗氧化剂对仔猪生长性能和肉质的影响。试验选择360头体重一致的仔猪(杜洛克和长白各半),随机分为6组,每组3个重复,每个重复20头猪。试验共设计6种日粮,其中对照组饲喂基础日粮,处理组分别在日粮中添加100、0、200、200和200 g/kg草粉,其中最后两个处理组分别添加200 mg/kgα-生育酚和儿茶素。试验由断奶开展到出栏。杜洛克猪肌肉pH45min显著高于长白猪(P <0.05),与对照组相比,处理1组和处理3组显著降低背膘深度(P <0.05)。杜洛克猪较长白猪显著提高了肌间脂肪和灰分含量(P <0.05),而长白猪较杜洛克猪显著提高了肌肉水分含量(P <0.05),处理5组较处理2组显著提高了肌肉灰分含量(P <0.05)。杜洛克猪较长白猪显著提高了肌肉C16:1和C18:1含量(P <0.05)。饲喂处理2和5组日粮的长白猪较对照组显著降低了肌肉MDA含量(P <0.05)。综上所述:日粮添加抗氧化及限饲提高长白猪肌肉瘦肉率和多不饱和脂肪酸含量。低能日粮可以改善背膘厚度和肌间脂肪水平,同时增加肌肉的氧化稳定性。     

北京油鸡肥育试验及产肉性能测定

通过对北京油鸡进行肥育试验，进一步展示了北京油鸡的生长速度和饲料利用率。结果表明：北京油鸡９０日龄体重，公鸡为１．５８千克，母鸡为１．２１千克，公、母鸡平均为１．３９千克。对２００余只鸡进行屠宰试验、产肉性能测定，测出北京油鸡９０日龄平均屠宰率，公鸡为７１．８６％，母鸡为７０．４０％；公鸡胸肉率为１０．５３％，母鸡胸肉率为１０．６９％；公鸡腿率为２３．１９％，母鸡腿率为２０．９８％。     

饲粮不同蛋白水平对淮猪生长性能、肉品质和血清生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮粗蛋白水平对淮猪育肥后期生产性能、肉品质和血清生化指标的影响。试验选取48头体重相近的淮猪,公母各半,随机分为3组,即低蛋白组(11.96%)、中蛋白组(13.04%)和高蛋白组(14.16%),每组4个重复,每个重复4头猪,试验期为138 d。结果表明,1)各组猪末重、平均日采食量和平均日增重差异不显著(P>0.05),但高蛋白组的料重比显著升高(P<0.05);各组猪屠宰性能无显著影响。2)各组的肌肉pH、肉色评分、失水率以及干物质、粗蛋白、粗灰分和肌苷酸的含量差异不显著(P>0.05),但高蛋白会显著提高肌肉粗脂肪和胆固醇的含量(P<0.05);3)高蛋白组猪肌肉中的亚麻酸含量显著高于低蛋白组(P<0.05),而花生四烯酸含量显著低于其他两组(P<0.05),其他各组之间脂肪酸含量差异不显著。4)低蛋白组的血清中ALB含量显著高于中蛋白组(P<0.05),随着蛋白水平提高,血清中的BUN含量有升高的趋势(P=0.085)。根据本试验结果,饲粮粗蛋白水平为13.04%对淮猪育肥后期生长性能、肉品质和血清生化指标的影响效果最佳。     

杜泊羊与小尾寒羊杂交后代屠宰性能和肉品质的研究

本研究旨在通过对屠宰性能、肌肉化学成分的检测,探讨杜泊羊与小尾寒羊杂交对后代屠宰性能及肉品质的影响,为选育优质肉羊品种提供理论依据。结果表明：从屠宰性能来看,杜寒F1和杜寒F2均继承了杜泊羊的优点,对小尾寒羊产肉率低的缺点有较大改善;从总体肉品质来看,杜寒F1和杜寒F2均继承了杜泊羊产肉多、肉质鲜美的优点,并且在肉色、嫩度、熟肉率、滴水损失、含钙量方面均优于小尾寒羊和杜泊羊。杜寒F2的肌肉嫩度、肉色指标均优于杜泊羊、小尾寒羊及F1代。     

Effects of dietary energy on growth performance,carcass characteristics,serum biochemical index,and meat quality of female Hu lambs

This study evaluated the effects of dietary energy levels on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and serum biochemical of female Hu lambs. Seventy female Hu lambs (aged 4 months) were randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatments. Lambs were fed diets with 5 levels of metabolizable energy (ME): 9.17 (E1), 9.59 (E2), 10.00 (E3), 10.41 (E4), and 10.82 MJ/kg (E5). The lambs were adapted to the experimental diets for 10 d and the experiment period lasted for 60 d. Dry matter intake and feed conversion ratio linearly (P < 0.001) increased and decreased (P < 0.001), respectively, with increasing dietary ME levels. Average daily gain (ADG) linearly (P < 0.001) increased with increasing dietary ME levels, with the highest final body weight (P = 0.041) observed in E4 group. Moreover, dietary energy level was associated with linear increases in serum total protein (TP) (P < 0.001), albumin (ALB) (P = 0.017), glucose (GLU) (P = 0.004), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) (P = 0.006) concentrations, and it was associated with a quadratic decrease in serum triglyceride (TG) concentration (P = 0.002). Serum ammonia concentration, which was firstly decreased and then increased, was quadratically affected by dietary ME levels (P = 0.013). Compared with E1 group, lambs in E4 group had higher (P < 0.05) live weights, carcass weights, mesenteric fat ratio, non-carcass fat ratio, and larger loin muscle area, but lower (P < 0.05) meat colour a∗ and b∗ values, and lesser (P < 0.05) C17:0, C20:0, C18:1n-9t, C18:3n-3, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), but greater (P < 0.05) C18:3n-6 and n-6:n-3 ratios in longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle tissue, and lesser (P < 0.05) C17:0, C18:3n-3, C22:6n-3, and n-3 PUFA in the biceps femoris (BF) muscle tissue. The results demonstrated that increasing dietary energy level improved the growth performance and affected carcass traits, serum biochemical indexes, and fatty acid profiles in different muscles of female Hu lambs. For 4-month-old female Hu lambs, the recommended fattening energy level is 10.41 MJ/kg.     

芽孢杆菌对育肥猪生长性能和肉品质的影响

试验选择平均体重为(23.5±0.89)kg的三元商品猪75头用于评估日粮添加芽孢杆菌对生长育肥猪生长性能和肉品质的影响。共分为3组,每组5个重复,每个重复5头猪。对照组饲喂两阶段(生长和育肥期)基础日粮,试验组分别在基础日粮中添加0.015%和0.03%的芽孢杆菌。试验开展16周。结果:试验全期(0~16周)日增重和增重耗料比表现为显著线性升高(P<0.05);6周肥猪干物质消化率随日粮芽孢杆菌添加水平的升高显著线性升高(P<0.05)。0.03%芽孢杆菌组显著提高了6和16周血液葡萄糖水平(P<0.05);日粮芽孢杆菌添加水平显著线性提高16周肥猪粪中乳酸杆菌和大肠杆菌含量(P<0.05)。日粮芽孢杆菌添加水平显著线性提高了第3天猪肉感官指标、滴水损失和屠体重(P<0.05)。因此,利用芽孢杆菌作为益生菌添加到饲料中可以提高生长肥育猪的生长性能和胴体质量。     

苏太猪CAST基因多态性与肉质性状的相关性研究

采用PCR-RFLP方法对72头苏太猪的钙蛋白酶抑制蛋白(calpastatin,CAST)基因遗传多态性与肉质性状的相关性分析。对CAST基因第6内含子上MspⅠ、HinfⅠ、RsaⅠ三种酶切位点进行检测,结果表明:CAST基因第6内含子上,MspⅠ酶切位点的3种基因型间在肌肉的嫩度、pH值、系水力水平指标上均差异显著(P0.05);HinfⅠ酶切位点的3种基因型间在肌内脂含量指标上差异显著(P0.05),在肌肉嫩度上差异极显著(P0.01)。RsaⅠ酶切位点上也发现了3种基因型,但各基因型的不同性状间差异不显著(P0.05)。     

Effects of different dietary energy and protein levels and sex on growth performance,carcass characteristics and meat quality of F1 Angus x Chinese Xiangxi yellow cattle

Background：The experiment evaluated the effect of nutrition levels and sex on the growth performance,carcass characteristics and meat quality of F1 Angus × Chinese Xiangxi yellow cattle.Methods：During the background period of 184 d,23 steers and 24 heifers were fed the same ration,then put into a2×2×2 factorial arrangement under two levels of- dietary energy（TON：70/80%DM）,protein（CP：11.9/14.3%DM）and sex（S：male/female） during the finishing phase of 146 d.The treatments were-（1） high energy/low protein（HELP）,（2） high energy/high protein（HEHP）,（3） low energy/low protein（LELP） and（4） low energy/high protein（LEHP）.Each treatment used 6 steers and 6 heifers,except for HELP- 5 steers and 6 heifers.Results：Growth rate and final carcass weight were unaffected by dietary energy and protein levels or by sex.Compared with the LE diet group,the HE group had significantly lower dry matter intake（DMI,6.76 vs.7.48 kg DM/d）,greater chest girth increments（46.1 vs.36.8 cm）,higher carcass fat（19.9 vs.16.3%） and intramuscular fat content（29.9 vs.22.8%DM）.The HE group also had improved yields of top and medium top grade commercial meat cuts（39.9 vs.36.5%）.The dressing percentage was higher for the HP group than the LP group（53.4 vs.54.9%）.Steers had a greater length increment（9.0 vs.8.3 cm）,but lower carcass fat content（16.8 vs.19.4%） than heifers.The meat quality traits（shear force value,drip loss,cooking loss and water holding capacity） were not affected by treatments or sex,averaging 3.14 kg,2.5,31.5 and 52.9%,respectively.The nutritive profiles（both fatty and amino acid composition） were not influenced by the energy or protein levels or by sex.Conclusions：The dietary energy and protein levels and sex significantly influenced the carcass characteristics and chemical composition of meat but not thegrowth performance,meat quality traits and nutritive profiles.