The beef carcasses (n=61) used in this study had a mass range of 190 kg to 240 kg. No specific breed was chosen. The three age groups were A (no permanent incisors) (n=21), B (2 or more permanent incisors) (n=20) and C (≥8-toothed) (n=20). Due to the fact that carcass fatness could influence (but not determine according to Patterson, 1975) juiciness and flavour, carcasses representing the full spectrum within each age group were selected.