Relationships between production and product traits in subpopulations of Bonsmara and Nguni cattle

Ninety bull calves of five Bonsmara strains, viz. Edelheer (E), T-49 (T), Wesselsvlei (W), Roodebos (R) and Belmont Red (BR), and two Nguni sub-populations, viz. Bartlow (B) and non-Bartlow (NB), were fattened under intensive feeding conditions and serially slaughtered at four different slaughter weights. Phylogenetic relationships between the five Bonsmara strains and between the two Nguni subpopulations were determined by means of blood typing. Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality characteristics were compared between the sub-populations of each breed. Genetic distances between the Bonsmara animals confirmed the existence of five genetic subpopulations with variation in genetic distances between them. The genetic distance between the two Nguni subpopulations was very small, indicating genetic similarity. Means for production and product characteristics were adjusted for mean subcutaneous fat percentage by means of analysis of covariance. T gained weight faster and more efficiently on a live and carcass weight basis than the other Bonsmara groups, while B gained carcass and muscle weight more efficiently than NB. T had proportionally more meat in the high-priced cuts of the carcass than W. Muscle of the W line had a higher ageing potential (measured as myofibrillar fragmentation; MFI) than T, resulting in higher tenderness scores for W. Similarly, B had higher MFI for muscle aged for one or seven days, coupled with more tender meat than NB. Pairwise correlations between growth and muscle characteristics indicated that fast growing animals tend to produce less tender meat. South African Journal of Animal Science, Vol 31, Issue 3, Oct – Dec (2001): pp.181-19

Effect of technique of electrical stunning on muscle pH and meat quality characteristics of bacon pigs

No Abstrac

Secondary sexual development (Masculinity) of bovine males: 1. Influence on carcass composition, cutability, economic value and certain muscles

Differences in carcass composition, cutability, economic value of the carcass and distribution of certain muscle groups, between bulls with secondary sexual characteristics (bulls(+)), those without (bulls(-)), and steers were investigated. Two carcass mass groups (250-300 and 301-350 kg) were compared. Five carcasses of either mass group were studied within each sex condition group. Bulls(+) had a higher meat percentage (P < 0·05) than bulls(-) or steers. They also had a lower bone percentage than steers (P < 0·05), but non-significant differences were found between bulls(+) and bulls(-) for bone percentage. Significant differences (P < 0·05) between sex condition groups were found for percentages of hindquarter, as well as for distribution of high-priced cuts. Steers had the most favourable distribution and bulls(+) the least favourable. Bulls(-) were intermediate. Masculinity significantly (P < 0·05) influenced the distribution of the chuck, neck, brisket and hind shin cuts, whilst mass had a significant effect on the percentage hind shin and percentage thin flank. It was found that the M. rhomboideus was the only muscle of those studied that was significantly affected by masculinity and it was concluded that this muscle could be used as an indicator of the masculinity of the carcass. The economic values of the carcasses of steers, bulls without secondary sexual development and bulls with secondary sexual development differed non-significantly. © 1992.Articl

The influence of breed, castration and age on muscle fibre type and diameter in friesland and Afrikaner cattle

No Abstrac

Secondary sexual development (Masculinity) of bovine males: 2. Influence on certain meat quality characteristics

Differences in meat quality traits between bulls with secondary sexual development (bulls(+), n = 10), those without this development (bulls(-), n = 10) and steers (n = 10) were investigated. All animals had no permanent incisors (A-age group). Significant differences (P 0·05) differences between the three sex condition groups were found. It is concluded that the influence of masculinity on meat quality traits of young bulls is of little practical importance in a classification and grading system. © 1992.Articl