Crossbreeding trial with Charolais, Blond d'Aquitaine and Limousin on Fleckvieh cows - 2nd communication: Carcass yield and carcass quality

The crossbred groups of the Blond d'Aquitaine (BA) and Charolais (Ch) were slaughtered 5 weaks later than the sire breed groups of the earlier maturin g breeds Limousin (Li) and Fleckvieh (FV). Nevertheless the carcasses of BA were by far the leanest, especially in comparison with the FV control. Con cerning the fat classes and the kidney fat proportion, the degree of fatnes s increased as follows: BA < Li < Ch < FV. In dressing percentage, BA was o n average of bulls and heifers superior to FV by 3,4 points, Ch and Li by 2 ,8 points, respectively. In consequence, the beef breeds also exceeded FV i n daily net gain: Ch +51 g > BA +21 g > Li +8 g. The carcasses of the cross bred animals also had a better conformation. In EUROP-classification (E = 5 ) on average of bulls and heifers the ranking order was Ch 3.97 > BA 3.76 > Li 3,63 > FV 3,19. Ch also had the broadest round tin percent of carcass l ength) and the highest roastbeef and pistol proportions. BA was leading in the muscle proportions of shoulder, neck and back. Li was best muscled on t he round and had the greatest rib-eye area tin percent of carcass length), But, there were only small differences in the mentioned proportions of carc ass cuts and muscle parts. According to decreasing lean meat proportion it resulted the ranking order (in%) BA +4,2 > Li +1,9 > Ch +1,8 > FV (69,4%) a nd according to decreasing meat proportion (lean meat and fat tissue) the o rder was Li > BA > Ch > FV (82.6%).