Effect of ration, sex and breed on carcass performance and meat quality of cattle from suckler cow systems
M. Velik, A. Steinwidder, J. J. Frickh, G. Ibi und A. Kolbe-Römer
In the present study, bulls and heifers from suckler cow farms of three different genotypes (Fleckvieh x Fleckvieh (FF), Fleckvieh x Limousin (FL) and Fleckvieh x Charolais
(FC)) were fattened with grass silage and two oncentrate levels (2.6 x 3.5 kg DM and 4.0 x 5.3 kg DM concentrates, respectively). Heifers were slaughtered at 480 and 550 kg live weight and bulls at 550 and 620 kg live weight, respectively. Gender (bulls or heifers) had a significant effect on all carcass and meat quality traits, with the exception of conformation score, percentage of valuable sections, meat protein content and lightness. Bulls showed significantly higher slaughtering performances; however, the first slaughter date of the bulls seemed to be too early. As expected, meat of
heifers showed significantly better meat quality parameters. The genotype FF showed the worst carcass quality (57.1% killing-out percentage, 3.4 conformation score, 37.8% valuable sections, 12.4% fat tissue). The genotype had a significant effect on water holding capacity and Longissimus muscle area. With increasing slaughter weight, killing-out percentage (59.8 vs. 58.3%), conformation score (3.9 vs. 3.5 points), but – especially in heifers – also carcass fat increased significantly. Moreover, higher slaughter weights affected Longissimus muscle area and drip losses significantly; both items were significantly increased at the higher slaughter age. Shear force was significantly lower at the lower slaughter age (41.8 vs. 47.6 N). Intensity of concentrate intake had no marked effect on parameters of carcass and meat performance.
Keywords/Stichworte:Beef cattle, cross breed, sex, slaughter age, carcass performance, meat quality
(FC)) were fattened with grass silage and two oncentrate levels (2.6 x 3.5 kg DM and 4.0 x 5.3 kg DM concentrates, respectively). Heifers were slaughtered at 480 and 550 kg live weight and bulls at 550 and 620 kg live weight, respectively. Gender (bulls or heifers) had a significant effect on all carcass and meat quality traits, with the exception of conformation score, percentage of valuable sections, meat protein content and lightness. Bulls showed significantly higher slaughtering performances; however, the first slaughter date of the bulls seemed to be too early. As expected, meat of
heifers showed significantly better meat quality parameters. The genotype FF showed the worst carcass quality (57.1% killing-out percentage, 3.4 conformation score, 37.8% valuable sections, 12.4% fat tissue). The genotype had a significant effect on water holding capacity and Longissimus muscle area. With increasing slaughter weight, killing-out percentage (59.8 vs. 58.3%), conformation score (3.9 vs. 3.5 points), but – especially in heifers – also carcass fat increased significantly. Moreover, higher slaughter weights affected Longissimus muscle area and drip losses significantly; both items were significantly increased at the higher slaughter age. Shear force was significantly lower at the lower slaughter age (41.8 vs. 47.6 N). Intensity of concentrate intake had no marked effect on parameters of carcass and meat performance.