This study assessed breed differences in fatty acid composition and meat quality
of
Longissimus thoracis et lumborum
(LTL) and
semitendinosus
(SE) of Angus× Chinese Simmental
(AS), Wagyu×Chinese Simmental (WS), and Chinese Simmental (CS). CS
(n=9), AS (n=9) and WS (n=9) were randomly selected from a
herd of 80 bulls which were fed and managed under similar conditions. Fatty acid
profile and meat quality parameters were analyzed in duplicate. Significant
breed difference was observed in fatty acid and meat quality profiles. AS
exhibited significantly (p<0.05) lower C16:0 and higher C18:1n9c compared
with CS. AS breed also had a tendency (p<0.10) to lower total saturated
fatty acid (SFA), improve C18:3n3 and total unsaturated fatty acid (UFA)
compared with CS. Crossbreed of AS and WS had significantly (p<0.05)
improved the lightness, redness, and yellowness of muscles, and lowered cooking
loss, pressing loss, and shear force compared with CS. These results indicated
that fatty acid composition and meat quality generally differed among breeds,
although the differences were not always similar in different tissues. Fatty
acid composition, meat color, water holding capacity, and tenderness favored AS
over CS. Thus, Angus cattle might be used to improve fatty acid and meat quality
profiles of CS, and AS might contain better nutritive value, organoleptic
properties, and flavor, and could be potentially developed as an ideal
commercial crossbreed.