he effect of the diet offered to heifer progeny of a grassland-based spring calving suckler
beef production system during the finishing period on the colour of carcass fat and the
colour and sensory characteristics of longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle was
determined in the context of suitability for one sector of the Italian beef market. A diet
based on grass silage plus concentrate was compared with a diet based on concentrates
and wheat straw. Compared to animals offered the concentrate-based diet both the
kidney/channel fat and subcutaneous fat from animals offered the grass silage based diet
was more yellow and a greater proportion (33 v 0%) were deemed unacceptable for this
market on the basis of fat colour. There was no effect of diet on muscle colour or on
muscle pH, drip loss, taste panel traits or shear force values or on market acceptability
based on muscle colour. The maximum level of dietary inclusion of grass silage to avoid
inadequate fat colour remains to be determined.