After two complete grazing trials, 47 Holstein, Charbray and Zebu (mostly Brahman) bulls were processed for offal components, carcass traits and composition comparisons at an average liveweight (LW) of 545 kg. At the same LW the Holstein bulls had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) weight for the head (3.33% of LW), feet (2.47% of LW), liver (1.11% of LW), kidneys (1.29% of LW) and intestines (5.18% LW) than the Zebu and Charbray bulls, and a significantly longer leg (53.0 vs. 48.90 cm; P < 0.05) than the Charbray bulls. The Zebu bulls had the heaviest hide (P < 0.05) and smallest stomach weight (P < 0.05). The carcasses of the Holstein bulls had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) bone percentage (21.60 vs. 16.63, 17.46%) and a lower amount of fat than the Charbray and Zebu bulls, respectively. Charbray bulls presented greater loin eye area, total amount of muscle, muscle to bone+fat ratio and weight and percentage of the Biceps femoris, Gluteus, and Cuadriceps femoris muscles in the left-hindquarter (LH), than the Zebu and Holstein bulls (P < 0.05). Charbray and Zebu bulls showed greater (P < 0.05) thickness of the round (26.03, 25.85, vs. 24.03 cm), hot carcass and LH weight, total dissectible fat, dressing percentage, muscle to bone ratio, and weight of the Semimembranosus, Psoas major, Longissimus dorsi and Semitendinosus muscles than the Holstein bulls (P < 0.05). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found among breeds for subcutaneous fat thickness and for the weights of fascia/tendon, trimming, carcass shrinkage, and for the forequarter weight and percentage of left side.
Effects of chronological age (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 permanent Incisors [PI]) and sex were evaluated on meat quality of the Longissimus lumborum muscle using 130 beef-type animals. Hot carcass weight (HCW), intramuscular fat (IF), pH, tenderness (WBS), color (L*, a*, and b*), water holding capacity and sensory properties (tenderness, juiciness, and general acceptance) were evaluated. Females had lower HCW (178 vs. 252 kg; P<0.0001), greater IF (6.48 vs. 3.87%; P<0.0001), and higher pH (5.74 vs. 5.59; P=0.0179). As age increased, IF decreased in males, while the opposite occurred in females (P=0.0153). Younger animals had lighter, redder, and yellower meat (greater L*, a* and b*, respectively; P<0.05). Higher pH resulted in lower L*, a* and b* values (P<0.05) and a lower proportion of water liberated evident by a negative correlation of -0.57 (P<0.0001). Females had more tender meat (8.06 vs. 9.08 kg; P<0.05). An interaction between sex and age (P=0.0011) resulted from females with 6 and 8 PI and males with 8 PI having lower WBS. Although unexpected, these results could have been influenced by greater pH and IF within these age categories. The sensory panel found no differences in any of the attributes tested (P>0.05). To better understand how age and sex affect meat quality, pH variations must be addressed.
Several quality criteria were determined in beef derived from animals of two age groups classified by dentition: those with four permanent incisors (55 head), and those with five or more permanent incisors (50 head), corresponding to chronological ages of up to 2.5 years and three years or more, respectively. The 105 animals were processed into beef in three local slaughtherhouses. From each left-carcass, samples from the Longissimus dorsi lumborum (LDL), Semimembranosus (SM) and Semitendinosus (ST) were obtained and analyzed for tenderness (Warner-Braztler Shear Force; WBS) and intramuscular fat as crude and cooked beef, and for contents of water and protein in crude condition, at the laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Mayagüez Campus of UPR. A similar number of crude samples were analyzed for contents of intramuscular fat and cholesterol at the laboratory of Meat Technology of the University of Florida in Gainesville. Animal age did not affect (P > 0.05) contents of water, protein or cholesterol, nor the WBS value. Intramuscular fat content of younger animals was lower (P less than 0.05) than that of the older group in crude beef analyzed at Mayagüez (1.89 vs. 2.73%) and Florida (2.60 vs. 3.48%), and in cooked beef analyzed in Mayagüez (2.98 vs. 4.56%), respectively. The general means of protein and cholesterol content were 20.38% and 56.41 mg/100 g (wet basis), the latter being lower than that found in the literature (70 to 75 mg/100 g). This difference is ascribed mainly to the common local practice of basing bovine feeding on grazing tropical grasses. Muscle did not affect (P > 0.05) the contents of protein and intramuscular fat in crude and cooked samples analyzed at Mayagüez, and of cholesterol (LD vs. SM) in crude beef samples analyzed at Florida. Intramuscular fat was higher (P less than 0.05) in crude samples from Longissimus analyzed at Florida. In addition, of the three muscles tested, Longissimus yielded crude beef with higher (P less than 0.05) intramuscular fat content (Florida samples) and of greatest tenderness (WBS 1.53 kg/1.27 cm). It is concluded that beef produced in Puerto Rico can be classified as moderately tender and low in intramuscular fat and cholesterol, thus constituting a healthy and appetizing source of nutrients for the consuming public.
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