Effect of vitamin A restriction on performance and meat quality in finishing Holstein bulls and steers

Twenty-four Holstein steers and 23 Holstein bulls (initial body weight = 252 ± 3.5 kg and age = 187 ± 7.5 d) were randomly allocated to 4 treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design with gender (bulls vs steers) and vitamin A supplementation (either restricted at 1.3 × 1000 IU/kg, VAR, or supplemented at 4.6 × 1000 IU/kg, CTR) to evaluate the effect of vitamin A restriction on performance, carcass and meat quality traits of Holstein steers and bulls. Intramuscular fat was less (P < 0.01) in bulls than in steers, and tended (P = 0.09) to be greater in VAR than in CTR animals. Oxidative stability tended (P = 0.09) to be greater in meat from VAR than from CTR animals at 21 d of ageing. Vitamin A restriction in Holstein bulls does not achieve the same intramuscular fat levels obtained with castration.

► Vitamin A effects on performance, and meat quality of Holstein steers and bulls. ► Vitamin A restriction cannot achieve intramuscular fat levels of castrated bulls. ► Vitamin A restricion reduces lipid oxidation and improves visual appearance of meat.