Comparison of Friesian, Canadian Hereford × Friesian and Simmental × Friesian steers for growth and carcass composition

Abstract

One hundred and twenty spring-born steers comprised of 40 Friesians (FR), 40 Canadian Hereford × Friesians (HF) and 40 Simmental × Friesians (SM) were reared together from shortly after birth to slaughter after a mean period of 740 days. During the finishing winter there was a 3 (breed types) × 2 (3 and 6 kg supplementary concentrates per head daily with grass silage ad libitum) × 2 (222- and 225-day finishing periods) factorial arrangement of treatments. One side from each of 96 carcasses (eight per treatment) was completely separated into bone, muscle, intermuscular fat and subcutaneous fat and a 10th rib sample of m. longissimus was chemically analysed.Carcass weights per day of age and carcass weights were 404, 433 and 449 (s.e. 4·6) g and 301, 320 and 330 (s.e. 3·4) kg for FR, HF and SM, respectively. Corresponding proportions of carcass muscle were 602, 577 and 628 (s.e. 4·8) g/kg. FR and HF had similar proportions of their total muscle in the hindquarter, whereas SM had more of their muscle in the hindquarter. M. longissimus lipid concentrations for FR, HF and SM were 36, 39 and 26 (s.e. 1·96) g/kg. Increasing supplementary concentrate level from 3 to 6 kg/day increased side weight by 7 kg, of which proportionately 0·48 was fat. Extending the finishing period from 121 to 225 days increased side weight by 22 kg of which proportionately 0·45 was fat. Both the higher concentrate level and the longer finishing period reduced carcass muscle and bone proportions, and increased carcass fat proportion. Allometric regression coefficients for side muscle, bone and fat weights on side weight were 0·75, 0·51 and 2·13, respectively. It was calculated that FR, HF and SM would have similar carcass fat proportions at approximate carcass weights of 320, 290 and 380 kg, respectively.

Feeding frequency has diet-dependent effects on plasma hormone concentrations but does not affect oocyte quality in dairy heifers fed fibre- or starch-based diets

“…As BCS assesses primarily subcutaneous fat deposition, then it is likely that the Holstein heifers contained more fat in other adipose tissue depots. Studies in which fat deposition in different breeds of cattle has been measured support this observation (Taylor and Murray, 1991;Keane and More O'Ferrall, 1992). Thus the Holstein heifers in the present study with BCS 2 probably performed similarly to beef 3 Holstein heifers of BCS .…”

A comparison of purebred Holstein-Friesian and Holstein-Friesian × beef breed bulls for beef production and carcass traits

“…Instead, Hol×late maturing breed bulls had higher proportions of many high value joints (rounds, loins) compared to purebred Hol bulls. Other studies have also shown that the late maturing breed type cattle have higher proportions of high value joints than early maturing breed crosses or pure dairy breeds (Andersen et al 1977, Keane et al 1989, Keane and More O'Ferrall 1992. In general, carcass conformation and fat scores have explained moderate to high proportions of the variation (R 2 ranged from 0.47 to 0.70) in carcass meat yield (Perry et al 1993, Drennan et al 2008, Conroy et al 2009.…”

“…For example, the superiority of the Hol×Li and Hol×Ba crossbred bulls for carcass conformation compared to purebred Hol bulls corresponded to the results reported by Keane et al (1989) with Friesian, Friesian×Limousin and Friesian× Blonde d'Aquitaine steers. Furthermore, Keane and More O'Ferrall (1992) observed that Friesian×Hereford and Friesian×Simmental steers conformed 36 and 40% better than purebred Friesians, respectively. Aass and Vangen (1998) suggested that commercial conformation grading is in general an imprecise method for evaluation of carcass composition.…”

A comparison of the growth and carcass traits between dairy and dairy × beef breed crossbred heifers reared for beef production

“…For example, the superiority of the Hol × Li and Hol × Ba crossbred heifers for carcass conformation compared to pure dairy heifers corresponded to the results reported by Keane et al (1989) with Friesian, Friesian × Limousin and Friesian × Blonde d'Aquitaine steers. Furthermore, Keane and More O'Ferrall (1992) observed that Friesian × Hereford and Friesian × Simmental steers conformed 36 and 40% better than purebred Friesians, respectively. The differences in conformation score suggested a superior muscling of the dairy × Ab and dairy × Hf crosses compared to pure dairy heifers.…”

“…Other studies have also shown that the late maturing breed type cattle have higher proportions of high value joints than early maturing breed crosses or pure dairy breeds (Keane et al, 1989Keane and More O'Ferrall, 1992). The higher lean and lower fat contents in the carcasses of the Friesian × Li than in Friesian cattle have reported Kempster et al (1988), Keane et al (1989) and Steen and Kilpatrick (1995).…”