The cross-sectional area of the rib eye muscle
in total .square inches indicated that both bulls
and 1,000-1b cattle have significantly (P < .01)
larger muscles. This is an absolute measurement
and a function of size and weight; however,
when rib eye muscle area was expressed
as square inches per hundredweight of chilled
carcass, both bulls and lighter weight cattle
showed significant advantages (P < .01). A
significant interaction (P < .05) here may be
explained on the basis that the younger, more
rapidly growing bulls developed muscle faster
than did steers. The differences between the
square inches of rib eye muscle per hundredweight
chilled carcass were not nearly as large
for 1,000-1b groups.