Characterization of indigenous African cattle breeds in relation to carcass characteristics

Carcass traits of two indigenous African (Sanga) breeds (Afrikaner) and Ngu ni), one indigenous African composite breed (Bonsmara), one foreign composi te breed (Santa Gertrudis) and two continental European breeds (Brown Swiss and Pinzgauer) were compared. Treatment means were adjusted to the mean ov erall subcutaneous fat proportion (47 g/kg). Despite differences in maturit y type, only the Afrikaner dressed out significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the foreign breeds. Both Sanga breeds and the Bonsmara had significantly hi gher muscle yields than the Santa Gertrudis and Pinzgauer, mainly due to th e high intermuscular fat of the latter two breeds. When muscle yield was ex pressed per unit of bone, the Afrikaner and Bonsmara compared favourably wi th the larger breeds, due to their low bone and intermuscular fat yield, wh ile the Nguni had a relatively high bone yield. The Santa Gertrudis had the lowest muscle yield due to its high bone and intermuscular fat yields, esp ecially when compared with the smaller Bonsmara composite. Both Sanga breed s had significantly higher (P < 0.05) proportions of total weight, meat and bone (Afrikaner P>0.05) in the high-priced cuts compared with the other br eeds at the same subcutaneous fat level. Despite the statistical significan ce, differences were small in magnitude and probably of little commercial v alue. At the same time mean subcutaneous fat proportion, tissue yield and d istribution patterns expected of late maturing breeds were observed for sma ller indigenous breeds, suggesting that it was specific breed effects rathe r than maturity type effects, which were evident.