Carcass and meat quality characteristics of young bulls of Norwegian cattle and crossbreds with Angus, Hereford and Charolais
Titel:
Carcass and meat quality characteristics of young bulls of Norwegian cattle and crossbreds with Angus, Hereford and Charolais
Auteur:
Aass, Laila Vangen, Odd
Verschenen in:
Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science
Paginering:
Jaargang 48 (1998) nr. 2 pagina's 65-75
Jaar:
1998-05
Inhoud:
Crossbreeding effects on beef production characteristics, growth, carcass and meat quality traits were registered on a total of 162 purebred Norwegian (NRF) dual-purpose and crossbred bulls obtained from mating (AI) NRF dams with NRF, Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Charolais sires. The offspring were reared in commercial farms until slaughter. Data were analysed by mixed models and adjusted to either constant carcass weight (305 kg), slaughter age (19.5 mos.) or carcass fat level (6% fat) end points. Improvements in beef production traits obtained by crossbreeding were highly dependent on the choice of sire beef breed. NRF × Charolais crossbreds had the highest daily carcass gain and carcass quality (fleshiness grading) at all end points. Crossbreeding with Aberdeen Angus and Hereford gave no growth advantages, an intermediate increase in carcass fleshiness grading and an increase in weight constant carcass fat level compared to purebred NRF. The small, significant breed differences observed for colour, flavour, tenderness and firmness were of minor importance, and revealed that substantial improvements in meat quality cannot be expected by crossbreeding the actual beef breeds with the dual-purpose NRF breed under the present production system.
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