Characterization of different biological types of steers (cycle IV): retail product yields

Abstract

Retail product (RP) yields of 888 steers were obtained from mating Hereford (H) and Angus (A) dams to H or A (HA), Charolais (Ch), Gelbvieh (G b), Pinzgauer (Pz), Shorthorn (Sh), Galloway (Gw), Longhorn (Lh), Nellore (Ne), Piedmontese (Pm), and Salers (Sa) sires. The yields were measured at two trim levels (.30 and .00 in.). Data were evaluated at constant age (426 d), carcass weight (714 lb), and marbling (Small00) endpoints. At a constant age of 426 d, RP% was greater in carcasses from steers sired by Continental European breeds (Gb, Ch, Sa, Pz; 63.3 to 65.5 % at .00 in. trim) than steers sired by British b reeds (Sh, HA; 60.1 to 61.0%). Carcasses from Pm-sired steers had the highest RP% (69.7%) at the age-constant endpoint . Although carcasses were heavier (P<.05) for Ch-sired than for Pm-sired steers, lean growth rate measured by RP trimmed to .30 in. fat at 426 d, was similar for Ch- and Pm-sired steers. Lean growth rat e was slowest for Lh-sired steers. Differences in RP% among sire breeds were minor at the Small 00 marbling endpoint. The ran king of sire breeds for weight of RP at a constant age of 426 d was: Ch, Pm, Gb, Sa, Ne, Pz, HA, Sh, Gw, and Lh. These sire-breed differences in RP yields allow for selection and crossing of breeds to optimize these traits. Of the breeds evaluated, Pm-sired steers produced the most muscular, trimmest, and highest cutability carcasses, and HA and Sh-sired steers produced the fattest, lowest cutability carcasses. Lh-sired steers had the slowest lean growth rate. Differences in RP% and(or) weight among sire breeds should be balanced with meat quality and other important production traits.