scholarly journals Growth performance, and carcass and meat quality traits in progeny of Poll Nellore, Angus and Brahman sires under tropical conditions

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1295 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. C. Pereira ◽  
F. Baldi ◽  
R. D. Sainz ◽  
B. L. Utembergue ◽  
H. L. J. Chiaia ◽  
...  

This study aimed to characterise progeny of sires representing major families in the Poll Nellore breed. Fourteen Poll Nellore sires, two Angus sires and one Brahman sire were mated by AI to ~400 multiparous Poll Nellore dams. Calves were raised and stocked on pasture in central Brazil until reaching ~18 months of age, then fed a sugarcane bagasse-based diet on an ad libitum basis until reaching market weight and finish (average 23 months). There were 236 Poll Nellore (N), 38 Angus × Poll Nellore (AN) and 31 Brahman × Poll Nellore (BN) calves born in total. The weaning and 423-day weight weights, and growth rates and pre- and post-weaning were greater (P < 0.05) in males than in female calves, and were influenced by breed and by sire within the N animals. The weaning weights were higher (P < 0.05) in AN and BN than in N calves. The 423-day weight weights were greater (P < 0.05) in AN calves, followed by BN, with straightbred N being lightest. Feedlot average daily gain was unaffected (P > 0.05) by sex or by sire within N, but was lowest (P < 0.05) in N cattle, and highest in AN and BN animals, which did not differ (P > 0.05). Heifers reached the end of the study with lower bodyweight (BW) and dressing percentage than steers, resulting in lower carcass weights, smaller longissimus muscle areas (LMA), but greater 12th to 13th rib backfat (BF) and similar marbling score and mean shear force. However, the proportion of carcasses grading Choice or Prime was numerically greater in heifers than in steers (23.6% vs 9.8%). AN cattle reached greater harvest weights than BN, and those were heavier than N cattle (P < 0.001). However, dressing percentages were lowest in AN animals, so that there was no significant difference in carcass weight between AN and BN cattle. AN carcasses also had greater LMA, BF and marbling scores than the N carcasses. The proportion of carcasses grading Choice or Prime was numerically greater in AN cattle than in the BN and N groups (25.9%, 11.8% and 15.9%, respectively). Steaks from AN calves were more tender than N steaks, with the BN steaks being intermediate. There was significant variation among N sires for final BW, dressing percentage, carcass weight, LMA and marbling score, but not for BF or mean shear force. The percentages of carcasses of N cattle grading Choice or Prime ranged from 0% to 61.5%. Three N sires produced progeny with greater than 40% of carcasses grading Choice or above (Berílio OB, Furador OB, and Litoral OB). Likewise, three N sires (Blitz OB, Furador OB and Sossego OB) had progeny with 67%, 62% and 75%, respectively, of steaks classified as tender. This study confirmed that Zebu cattle have inferior carcass and meat quality relative to AN crossbreds under tropical conditions, however there is substantial variation within the N breed for these traits, and several sires have a proportion of their progeny comparable in terms of meat tenderness to those of Angus sires.

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Hopkins ◽  
PJ Holst ◽  
DG Hall

Objective and subjective tests for quality were performed on the meat from 40 cryptorchid second-cross lambs fed lucerne only (L; n = 8), lucerne plus an oat grain supplement ad libitum (LO; n = lo), lucerne plus wilted lucerne silage ad libitum (LS; n = 11), or an oat-lupin grain (3:1) supplement at 90% of ad libitum while grazing dry summer annual pasture (OL; n = 11). All carcasses complied with the Elite lamb specification of weight >22 kg and GR measurement 6-15 mm. There was no significant difference between groups for hot carcass weight, the mean (� s.e) values being 25.1 0.43, 25.2 � 0.36,25.2 � 0.38, and 25.3 � 0.36 kg for L, LS, LO, and OL groups, respectively. When the GR and fat depth over the eye muscle at the 12th rib were adjusted to a common carcass weight of 25.2 kg there was no significant difference between groups. There was no significant difference between groups for pH, or the colour values a*, b*, and L* of the M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (a* is relative redness, b* relative yellowness, and L* relative lightness). The shear force values for the loin muscle were significantly (P<0.05) greater for lambs from group OL than for those from group LO. Cooking loss for the loin muscle was significantly (P<0.05) greater for OL lambs than all other groups. A comparison of the mean values for aroma and flavour showed the lambs from group OL produced meat that was considered significantly (P<0.05) less desirable for these characteristics, with other groups being similar. Meat from OL-fed lambs was considered oilier and less meaty than meat from lambs fed the other diets. There was a significant (P<0.05) difference in absolute scores between panellists, but their ranking was not affected and there was no panellist x sample interaction. Because many producers use grain supplements such as oats and lupins for finishing lambs on dry forages, further study is recommended that focuses on the interaction between supplement and the base forage.


2001 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.D. Muir ◽  
N.B. Smith ◽  
P.M. Dobbie ◽  
D.R. Smith ◽  
M.D. Bown

AbstractThere is evidence that, in cattle, rapid compensatory growth after a period of growth restriction may increase the variability of beef quality and that variability is greater in breeds which reach larger body size at maturity. This experiment investigated the effect of compensatory growth following a period of winter growth restriction on carcass quality in steers of small and large mature size grazed on pasture. Angus (no. = 120) and South Devon ✕ Angus (SD✕ A; no. = 110) steers were allocated to non-restricted or restricted growth treatment groups and for 126 days over winter their grazing was managed to achieve mean live-weight gains of approximately 0·7 kg/day or to maintain live weight for each group respectively. Steers were slaughtered at the start (no. = 10 per breed) and end (no. = 20 per nutrition group (10 from each breed)) of the winter period for carcass evaluation. Thereafter, remaining steers were grazed together at a high pasture allowance to maximize growth and were slaughtered for carcass evaluation as they reached target live weights (Angus, 590 kg; SD✕ A, 620 kg). SD✕ A steers grew faster (P< 0·05) during both the winter and finishing periods and reached target slaughter live weights approximately 20 days earlier than Angus steers. SD✕ A steers also had leaner carcasses than Angus steers at each slaughter although there was no significant difference in meat quality between breeds. However, there was a significant effect of restriction treatment on carcass weight and meat quality. The non-restricted steers grew faster, had heavier carcasses and more tender steaks than restricted steers, although there was no significant difference in carcass fatness (adjusted for hot carcass weight). Muscle calpain activities were positively correlated with live-weight gain during the finishing period suggesting increased potential for post-mortem myofibrillar proteolysis and therefore increased meat tenderness. However, in the present experiment this was confounded by an increase in shear force with age-at-slaughter, especially in the non-restricted steers. Nevertheless, steers which were heaviest at the start of the experiment reached slaughter live weight earliest, were leaner than average and had higher calpain system activities at slaughter regardless of breed or restriction treatment. Furthermore, in the non-restricted group, high initial live weight and early slaughter was associated with lower pH and more tender meat. In conclusion, although restriction affected meat quality attributes, it appears that live weight prior to food restriction also had a considerable effect on carcass characteristics at slaughter. Therefore, the characteristics of the early growth phase prior to the finishing period may have important consequences for meat quality.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 859
Author(s):  
Marcia del Campo ◽  
Xavier Manteca ◽  
Juan Manuel Soares de Lima ◽  
Gustavo Brito ◽  
Pilar Hernández ◽  
...  

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different fattening systems from pasture to concentrate and temperament on animal welfare (AW) and meat quality (MQ). Eighty-four Hereford steers were randomly assigned to the following groups: T1, pasture (4% of animal live weight: LW); T2, pasture (3% LW) plus concentrate (0.6% LW); T3, pasture (3% LW) plus concentrate (1.2% LW); T4, an ad libitum concentrate treatment. Temperament was assessed by three individual tests: crush score, flight time, and exit speed, building a multicriterial temperament index (TIndex). The flight zone was also registered for each treatment. AW was assessed through the integration of indicators of productivity, physiology, and behavior, as well as by monitoring the health status within each treatment. Shear force was registered for MQ. Differences in average daily gain were due to the different energetic composition of the diets (T4 > T3 > T2 > T1) and were not attributable to animal welfare problems. Animals from T4 had the higher average daily gain (ADG) but welfare was negatively affected, being evident through physiological indicators, the restriction or deprivation of relevant behaviors, diet-related diseases, and mortality. T1, T2, and T3 did not appear to compromise animal welfare. However, strict preventive measures and monitoring should be taken during the habituation process and when using any new diet that includes concentrate, because of possible dietary diseases. Shear force values were lower in T1. None of the animals in our experiment were excitable or aggressive, but there was a positive response to handling in all treatments. In addition, regardless of diet, calmer animals had higher average daily gain and lower shear force values; thus, temperament appears to have a significant influence on productivity and meat quality.


2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
S Mehjabin ◽  
MR Amin ◽  
MO Faruque ◽  
MB Sarker

The present research was conducted to investigate the effect of sex and age of goats on live weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, chemical composition and pH of meat obtained from Black Bengal goat. Fifty goats of different age (up to 3 years) and sex groups (buck, castrated male, doe and kids) were slaughtered. After pre-slaughter weighing goats were sacrificed using the approved “Halal” method. The average live weight of doe up to one, two and three years of age were 12.51, 14.35 and 16.35 kg and of buck were 10.57, 19.29 and 37.05 kg, respectively. There were significant differences between the live weight of doe and buck at different age group. Hot carcass weight of doe and buck differ significantly among the different age group also differ significantly between the different sex group’s goat. The mean hot carcass weight of castrated male at one year of age was 7.82 kg and was observed highest in castrated male than doe and buck. The average dressing percentage of doe, buck and castrated male at one year of age was 42.02, 39.01 and 43.56%, respectively but the values did not differ significantly. There were no significant differences of DM, moisture and CP content between doe and buck at different age group but significant differences were observed among the different age group of doe and buck. Fat content was significantly different among the different age group of doe and buck. There was significant difference of ash among the different age group of doe and buck. The pH values of goat meat did not differ significantly among the different age and sex of goats. From this study, it was concluded that the meat quantity in terms of hot carcass weight and dressing percentage were higher when castrated male slaughter within one year whereas maximum hot carcass weight was obtained when buck slaughter at the age 2-3 years and meat quality in terms of crude protein content was higher in meat obtained from buck and ether extract content was lower in buck meat when slaughter within one year.Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2016. 45 (1): 19-24


1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 707-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ch. V. Boucqué ◽  
L. O. Fiems ◽  
B. G. Cottyn ◽  
R. J. Moermans ◽  
M. Sommer

Thirty-two double-muscled Belgian White-blue bulls, within a liveweight range of 542 (± 37) to 722 (± 31) kg, daily received 0 or 60 μg cimaterol kg−1 liveweight in a corn silage diet for 136 (± 29) d. Cimaterol slightly improved average daily gain from 1.28 to 1.38 kg (P > 0.05). Cold carcass weight and dressing were increased by cimaterol from 497.0 to 514.6 kg (P < 0.05) and from 71.0 to 72.9% (P < 0.001), respectively. Even in extremely meaty animals, cimaterol exerted a significant repartitioning effect towards more meat and less fat, both in the carcass and in the longissimus thoracis muscle. Cimaterol increased the shear force value from 37.1 to 52.7 N (P < 0.001) but had no effect on other organoleptical traits. Key words: Cimaterol, double-muscled bulls, growth, carcass, meat quality


2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1867 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Schatz ◽  
S. Thomas ◽  
G. Geesink

The growth of 116 Brahman (BRAH) and 96 F1 Senepol × Brahman (F1 SEN) steers grazing improved Buffel pasture in the Northern Territory was compared. Average growth was 10 kg higher in F1 SEN during grazing in the 9 months following weaning. Twenty-five steers of each genotype were compared for feedlot performance and meat quality. There was no significant difference in feedlot growth over 73 days in a commercial feedlot. On average F1 SEN carcasses graded two boning groups lower in the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading system. While M. longissimus samples from both genotypes were quite tender (shear force <4 kg), F1 SEN samples were found to be significantly more tender than BRAH (−0.44 kg) by shear force testing. These results indicate that crossbreeding with a tropically adapted Bos taurus breed, such as the Senepol, may be a viable method for cattle producers with Brahman herds in northern Australia to improve the meat quality of the cattle they produce.


2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Hoffman ◽  
W. J. Wolmarans ◽  
C. Smith ◽  
T. S. Brand

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of different transport distances on ostrich meat quality parameters, weight loss, and dressing percentage. Twenty-four ostriches were transported for 0 (T0), 60 (T60) and 600 (T600) km before being slaughtered. There was a significant difference (P = 0.038) in the percentage liveweight loss during transport and lairage between T60 km (2.4 ± 2.185%) and T600 km (8.13 ± 1.156%), respectively. There was also a significant difference (P = 0.003) in dressing percentage (farm weight to cold carcass weight) between the two abovementioned groups (T60 = 49.77%; T600 = 46.86%). Treatments also had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on ultimate pH (pHu), with the ostriches that did not travel exhibiting the lowest average pHu (5.77 ± 0.053) and the birds that travelled 600 km having the highest average pHu (6.11 ± 0.053). No differences (P > 0.05) were found in shear force and percentage cooking loss between the treatments, although all three treatments differed significantly (P < 0.05) from each other in drip loss (T0 km = 0.40%; T60 km = 1.36%; T600 km = 0.97%). Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found for L*, b* and hue-angle colour ordinates between the three treatments, while there were no differences (P > 0.05) in a* and chroma values. A significant correlation was found between hue angle (r = 0.528; P = 0.008) and pHu. The results of this study indicate that ostrich transport distance influences liveweight loss and meat quality.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 655-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Mir ◽  
D. R. C. Bailey ◽  
Z. Mir ◽  
S. D. M. Jones ◽  
T. Entz ◽  
...  

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of European and British crossbred (EBC; no Wagyu genetics; 28 heifers and 30 steers) cattle were compared with crossbred cattle with 75% Wagyu genetics (WC; seven heifers and 14 steers) to determine the influence of Wagyu genetics on marbling grade of beef cattle fed barley-based diets in a factorial design experiment. Weaned calves (250 d average age) were fed, one of two diets (diet 1, 35% barley grain; diet 2, 40% hay cubes on DM basis, with barley silage, protein and vitamin/mineral premix) for 84 d and then fed diet 1 until they weighed 394 to 432 kg. All cattle were finished on an 80% (DM basis) rolled barley diet and slaughtered. Carcasses were graded and samples procured for meat quality and Warner–Bratzler shear force determination. Number of days on backgrounding diets to arrive at target weight (380 kg) was greater (P < 0.05) for the WC cattle, owing to relatively lower ADG, but days on the finishing diet were fewer for these cattle, compared with EBC cattle. Warm carcass yield (dressing percent) was greater (P < 0.05), but backfat depth was lower (P < 0.05) for WC cattle relative to that of EBC cattle, yet proportion of lean meat yield was similar. Eighty three percent of WC cattle carcasses had Canada AAA (small or more) marbling grade compared with 13% for EBC cattle carcasses. Mean shear force of meat samples from EBC and WC cattle was 4.2 and 3.8 kg, respectively. Results indicated that the extent of carcass marbling can be increased by incorporating Wagyu genetics but age at slaughter of WC cattle was 19 d greater than that of EBC cattle and carcass size was reduced. Key words: Average daily gain, carcass characteristics, European and British crossbred, feed to gain ratio, meat quality, Wagyu crossbred cattle


2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 967
Author(s):  
E. C. Webb ◽  
B. Agbeniga

Context The present study investigated the effects of several electrical-stimulation parameters with conventional chilling of heavy- and light-grade carcasses from commercial feedlot cattle on selected meat-quality attributes. Aims The aim was to determine the combination of electrical-stimulation parameters that produced the most desirable results in terms of meat quality, which will serve as a guide to processors seeking to enact best processes in the meat industry. Methods Low-voltage electrical stimulation (110 V peak, 17 pulses/s, 5-ms pulse width) was applied either early post-mortem (PM) at 7 min or late PM at 45 min, for either 30 or 60 s on steer carcasses (n = 98) divided into two weight categories (light (≤260 kg) and heavy (≥290 kg) grades). The Longissimus lumborum muscle was evaluated for sarcomere length, myofibril fragment length (MFL), calpain-1, calpastatin, shear force and drip loss (3 and 14 days PM). Key results There were no significant differences in sarcomere length and no sarcomere shortening was observed. There were minor inconsistencies where early stimulation coincided with marginally longer MFL at 3 and 14 days PM, while late stimulation produced the shortest MFL at 14 days PM. Higher decline in calpain-1 concentration (mean 36.2%) was recorded in the early stimulated carcasses compared with the late stimulated carcasses (mean 29.7%) from 1 to 24 h PM, while calpastatin concentration decreased at a similar rate (mean 24%). Early stimulation resulted in lower shear force (P &lt; 0.05) at 3 days PM, especially in the heavier carcasses, indicating that higher initial temperature did accelerate tenderisation. At 14 days PM, there were no significant differences in shear force as regards stimulation time or carcass weight. Higher drip loss was however recorded in the early stimulated carcasses. Conclusions Early application of low-voltage electrical stimulation produced faster tenderisation early PM, due to higher rigor temperature, but, after aging for 14 days, all meat was acceptably tender with a lower variability, regardless of the stimulation time and carcass weight. Higher drip loss was associated with higher tenderness, which is normal and not a defect. Implications The use of low-voltage electrical stimulation should be encouraged for its ability to reduce variability in meat quality due to carcass-weight differences, especially in the current feedlot systems.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Wang ◽  
Yongjie Chen ◽  
Yanju Bi ◽  
Peng Zhao ◽  
Hanqing Sun ◽  
...  

In order to investigate the effect of gentle handling on the behavior, performance, and meat quality of pigs from weaning to slaughter, 144 6-week-old weaned hybrid Min piglets (a native breed) were selected and divided into a handling group (HG: 9 pens × 8 pigs) and a control group (CG: 9 pens × 8 pigs). After 6 weeks of handling, we observed and then evaluated the pigs’ responses to a handler with behavioral scores. Moreover, we measured heart rate and production performance. Three pigs were randomly selected from each of the 18 pens and divided into a handling group (HG: n = 27) and a control group (CG: n = 27), and the HG pigs were given gentle handling until slaughter. Subsequently, we evaluated meat quality and the production performance of six pigs from each group. The results show that AA test (approaching–avoidance test) scores in HG pigs, the number of contacts with the handler and absence of contact with the handler, were significantly higher than in the CG pigs (p < 0.01). The occurrences of avoidance and looking at the handler were lower in the HG than in the CG group (p < 0.01); however, heart rate was not found to be significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.63). No significant difference was found in the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio between the two groups during the two periods (p > 0.05). The b* value was determined 45 min after slaughter, and it was significantly lower in the HG than that in the CG group (p = 0.002). Furthermore, 2 h after slaughter, the L value of the HG group was significantly higher than that of the CG group (p = 0.047), but no difference was observed in carcass quality or other meat quality indicators between the two groups (p > 0.05). The results indicate that gentle handling could reduce pigs’ anxiety and increase their willingness to approach the handler, increasing the intimacy of the pigs and handlers. However, long-term gentle handling had little effect on pig performance, carcass quality, and meat quality.


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