EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF QUALITY BEEF-P RODUCTION SYSTEMS OF DIFFERENT FATTENING PERIODS AND INTENSITIES EMPLOYING HOLSTEIN BULLS

Citation
H. Gerhardy et al., EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF QUALITY BEEF-P RODUCTION SYSTEMS OF DIFFERENT FATTENING PERIODS AND INTENSITIES EMPLOYING HOLSTEIN BULLS, Zuchtungskunde, 67(2), 1995, pp. 117-131
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Agriculture Dairy & AnumalScience
Journal title
ISSN journal
00445401
Volume
67
Issue
2
Year of publication
1995
Pages
117 - 131
Database
ISI
SICI code
0044-5401(1995)67:2<117:EEOQBR>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
Considering a fattening system characterized by a slaughter age of 16 months, fattening and carcass performances as well as beef quality of Holstein Friesians (16 bulls) and of Charolais crossbreds (16 bulls) w ere analysed. In comparison to those, a group of purebred Holstein Fri esian (16 bulls) was fattened for 20 months. Daily gains of Holstein F riesians of both age classes were similar, however carcass measurement s in the bulls fattened for 20 months were superior, whereas the propo rtion of high-valued cuts was smaller. The difference in beef quality between bulls of both age classes was negligible. In comparison to Hol stein Friesian bulls,lean muscle growth and conformation of the crossb reds were significantly higher (+ 17% carcass daily gain; + 0.9 point assessment of the round). The beef of the crossbreds was lighter (2 po ints) and solubility of collagen was higher (+ 16% M. biceps femoris; + 6% M. semitendinosus). Beef tenderness in samples of both genotypes was similar. Considering consistency, proportion of essential fatty ac ids and degree of yellowness, as measured in samples of subcutaneous, intermuscular and pelvic fat tissue, the influence of the reduced fatt ening period was in favour of fat quality, although fat shelf life was reduced. Economic efficiency of the 20 months fattening system was su perior by 0.94 DM/kg as compared to the fattening system of the reduce d fattening period.