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Comparison of Carcass Traits of Bulls and Steers¹

University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Abstract

Carcass data from 77 Angus bulls and 80 steers of similar genetic and production environment background were compared. Data were collected over a 3-yr. period. At the same age, bull carcasses weighed 24.5 kg. more than steers and yielded 26.8 kg. more boneless trimmed retail product. When trait means were adjusted to a common carcass weight of 235 kg., bull carcasses yielded 13.2 kg. more total retail product. Retail chuck accounted for 5.8 kg., ground beef for 5.9 kg. and round for 1.7 kg. of this advantage.

Shear tests indicated steers required 1.3 kg. less shear force than bulls, but bulls were more variable than steers causing considerable overlap in tenderness measures. Steer carcasses averaged low Choice grade while their bull mates averaged between middle and high Good. Steers had more marbling, a finer texture and a more desirable red color than bulls.

A chemical analysis of a 1 cm. thick untrimmed but boneless cut at the 12 th rib indicated bulls had 11% less fat and 11% more protein than comparable steer cuts.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director as Paper No. 2330. Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. Contribution from North Central Regional Projects NC-1, Improvement of Beef Cattle through Breeding Methods and NC-58 Beef Carcass Evaluation.