Carcass characteristics of grass-fed crossbred bulls and steers slaughtered at two different ages

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate beef production potential and meat quality in young crossbred bulls and steers raised indoors and fed grass-based diets. One half of 96 bull calves were castrated at 2–3 wk of age. The calves were fed standard diets, and starting at 7 mo of age, they received grass silage supplemented with concentrates. At the end of the fattening period (18 and 21 mo of age), the animals were slaughtered, carcass quality was evaluated, and samples of musculus longissimus thoracis were collected to determine the proximate composition and meat quality. The semi-intensive feeding system contributed to higher daily gains (0.835 kg) in Holstein-Friesian (HF) × Hereford (HH) crosses. In comparison with steers, bulls were characterized by a higher dressing percentage (+1.33%), higher weight of five most valuable primal cuts (+6.7 kg), and higher lean meat content of three-rib cuts (+7.54%). Meat from steer carcasses, which had higher fat content was more tender and had desirable aroma, juiciness, and flavor. In semi-intensive production systems, steers performed better than bulls, and HF × HH crosses were more suitable than HF × Limousin (LM) and HF × Charolais (CH) crosses. Dairy-beef crosses should be slaughtered at 21 mo of age to improve carcass quality.