Production, carcass and meat quality traits of Hereford, Charolais and HerefordxCharolais bulls offered grass silage-grain-based rations and slaughtered at high carcass weights.

摘要

The objective of the experiment was to study performance and meat quality aspects of pure-bred Hereford (Hf) and Charolais (Ch) bulls and HfxCh cross-bred bulls offered grass silage-grain-based rations and raised to heavy carcass weights (CWs). The average slaughter age for all breeds was 565 days and the mean CWs for Hf, HfxCh and Ch bulls were 414, 476 and 507 kg, respectively. The Ch bulls tended to achieve higher weight gains, produce less fat and had a higher percentage of valuable cuts in comparison with Hf bulls. Breed group had no significant effects on the beef flavour of Musculus longissimus lumborum, but tenderness and juiciness were better in the meat of Hf bulls than that of Ch bulls. The cross-bred HfxCh bulls produced heavier and better conformed carcasses compared to pure Hf bulls which indicate that this type of cross-breeding can enhance beef production under the conditions studied.