Effects of Post-Weaning Exposure to a High-Concentrate Based Diet vs. Pasture on Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, and Lipogenic Gene Expression of Early Harvested Steers

High-concentrate based diets fed during the finishing phase promotes marbling deposition in cattle. However, little has been reported that examines early exposure to high-concentrate diets during the postweaning phase and the ability to accelerate marbling deposition. Our objective was to evaluate marbling deposition, meat quality, and lipogenic gene expression of post-weaned steers when started on a high-concentrate based diet or grazing high-quality forages.