Relative Growth Patterns of Commercially Important Muscle Groups of Cattle

Growth patterns of anatomically defined ‘standard muscle groups’ were determined from dissection data of 92 calves and steers. Allometric growth coefficients were calculated for 5 age phases from birth to maturity and the patterns of growth were recorded. The relative growth impetus of each standard muscle group was: distal pelvic limb, low; surrounding spinal column, average; abdominal wall, high-average or high; proximal thoracic limb, low-average; distal thoracic limb, low-average or low; thorax to thoracic limb, high; neck to thoracic limb, average-high; neck and thorax, low-average. The advantages of the diphasic nomenclature for recording growth patterns are discussed, and comparisons are made of the interpretation of the data using growth coefficients and by direct comparison of percentage values.