J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J. Anim Sci. 1978. 46:1178-1191.
© 1978 American Society of Animal Science
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Young, L. D.
Right arrow Articles by Gregory, K. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Young, L. D.
Right arrow Articles by Gregory, K. E.

Characterization of Biological Types of Cattle. VIII. Postweaning Growth and Carcass Traits of Three-Way Cross Steers1

L. D. Young, Larry V. Cundiff, J. D. Crouse, Gerald M. Smith and Keith E. Gregory2

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933

Abstract

Postweaning growth data on 282 steers and carcass data on 275 steers produced by artificially inseminating (AI) yearling heifers of 12 crossbred groups (Hereford-Angus reciprocal crosses plus F1 crosses produced by mating Jersey, South Devon, Simmental, Limousin and Charolais sires to Hereford and Angus cows) to Hereford, Angus, Brahman, Devon and Holstein bulls were analyzed. For postweaning growth rate, Devon-sired steers were the slowest, Holstein-sired steers were fastest and Hereford-Angus- and Brahman-sired steers were similar and intermediate. Due to their large weaning weights, Brahman-sired steers were heaviest at 452 days, followed closely by Holstein and then Hereford-Angus-AI (Hereford and Angus sires used by artificial insemination) and Devon. Steers from Jersey cross cows had the lowest average daily gain, relative growth rate and 452-day weight. Steers from the other crossbred cows group had similar postweaning growth rates, but due to weaning weight differences, Simmental, South Devon and Charolais crosses had similar 452-day weights that tended to be heavier than those of Hereford-Angus and Limousin crosses.

Carcass traits were analyzed once with carcass weight as a covariate and once with slaughter age as a covariate. The analyses produced similar results. Carcasses from Holstein-sired steers had the least fat cover, smallest percentage of kidney, heart and pelvic fat (%KHP), best yield grade, highest estimated percentage retail product and lowest conformation score. Devon-sired steers had the highest %KHP fat. Brahman-sired steers had the poorest yield grade and the lowest marbling score and quality grade. Hereford and Angus-sired steers had the most fat cover, poorest yield grade and lowest estimated percentage retail product but highest conformation, marbling and quality scores. Steers from Hereford-Angus and Jersey cross cows had the most fat cover, smallest longissimus area, highest %KHP fat, lowest yield grade and lowest percentage retail product. Steers from Jersey crosses also had the lowest conformation scores. Most other differences among cow sire breeds for carcass traits were small.

Footnotes

1 The cooperation of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, is acknowledged.

2 U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Agricultural Research Service.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
R. M. Ibrahim, D. E. Goll, J. A. Marchello, G. C. Duff, V. F. Thompson, S. W. Mares, and H. A. Ahmad
Effect of two dietary concentrate levels on tenderness, calpain and calpastatin activities, and carcass merit in Waguli and Brahman steers
J Anim Sci, June 1, 2008; 86(6): 1426 - 1433.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1978 by the American Society of Animal Science.