Effects backgrounding-finishing programs of different age/weight at harvest of feedlot steers.

Four ages at harvest (HA: A15, A18, A24 and A30 for 15, 18, 24 and 30 months, respectively) were compared in performance, carcass and meat traits of feedlot finished steers over a 123-day period. Three meat aging periods (postmortem days: 2, 7 and 14) were imposed on a longissimus thoracis muscle (LM) section of each left carcass. Feed efficiency (FE) was greater (P ≤ 0.