The use of double-muscled cattle breeds in terminal crosses: Meat quality

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of meat from 84 calves born from British (50% Hereford and 50% Red Angus) and Continental (50% Sim mental and 50% Maine Anjou) dams inseminated with semen from normal (Charol ais) or double-muscled (Piedmontese, Belgian Blue) sires. Lean composition of Belgian Blue and Piedmontese sired cattle had less intramuscular fat and more protein than Charolais sired cattle (P < 0.01 to 0.05). Breed of sire , origin of dam or calf sex had no effect on longissimus ultimate pH, thawi ng and cooking losses, shear forces, tenderness and overall flavour. Howeve r, meat from male progeny displayed higher drip loss (P < 0.05) and meat co lour of male calves born from British dams was slightly more saturated than that of male calves born from Continental darns (P < 0.02). There were no other single effects of parental traits on meat quality. Significant intera ctions on total and soluble collagen content involving parental traits toge ther with the single sex effect of the progeny (P < 0.05) did not induce te xtural differences, but meat from male progeny and that from Continental da ms crossed with Belgian Blue sires was more juicy (P < 0.05). The use of DM bulls in terminal crosses resulted in increased lean yield and less marbli ng of the meat of the progeny but did not exert any other important effect on meat quality.