Investigations on growth of intensively fed male and female beef cattle twins and singles - 2nd communication: Carcass composition, meat characteristics and muscle structure

Carcass composition, growth of tissues and organs were investigated in 48 m ale and 45 female beef cattle calves deriving from twin and single calvings between 6 and 18 months of age. The estimation of meat quality and muscle structure characteristics has been effected in M. long. dorsi. Only little differences in carcass tissue composition and meat quality between singles and the lighter twins were found. The edible tissues of carcass in contrast to bones and organs recorded relative high growth rates. Bulls and heifers of the "Uckermarker" beef cattle reached balanced protein-fat portions in the carcass at high feeding level after 18 months of life, respectively. Co rresponding to lower carcass weights and lower meat protein yield twins at higher live weight ranges had also smaller muscle fibre diameters in M. lon g. dorsi. In agreement with partially lower pH value and higher meat color brightness they had evidently a higher portion of fast twitch fibres with m ainly glycolytic metabolism. In contrast, twins had higher total muscle fib re numbers. In summary the analysis of muscle structure indicated a relatio nship between the lower meat protein yield of twins and partially unfavoura ble conditions for muscle growth.