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Crossing Angus and Milking Shorthorn Cattle: Steer Carcass traits^{1 ,2,}

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Abstract

Evaluation of straightbred and crossbred performance and estimates of heterosis were obtained for carcass quantity and quality traits using 224 straightbred and reciprocal crossbred steers, from Angus (A) and Milking Shorthorn (MS) cows, born over a 5-year period. Steers were full-fed 196 days following weaning and marketed at 406 ± 14 days of age.

Breed-of-sire effects were significant for all traits except percentage kidney-pelvic-heart fat, percentage Kjeldahl nitrogen, percentage moisture and percentage ether extract of separable rib lean. Steers from A sires had greater rib eye areas, rib fat depth, USDA carcass grades, marbling scores, weight of separable rib lean, weight of separable rib fat and carcass price. Steers from MS sires had more separable rib bone and higher USDA cutability percentages.

Significant breed-of-dam effects were observed, with steers from A dams having larger rib eye areas, rib fat depth, carcass grades, weights separable rib lean and carcass price measurements.

With no adjustment for variations in hot carcass weight, significant heterosis (crossbred minus straightbred) differences were: 15.1 kg for carcass weight, .16% for kidney, heart and pelvic fat, 2.6 cm² for rib eye area, .29 kg separable rib lean, .38 kg for separable rib fat and .09 kg for separable rib bone. However, with adjustment for variations in hot carcass weight, small, nonsignificant heterosis estimates were observed for all traits.

Significant reciprocal cross (Ax MS - MSx A) differences were observed for only four traits. The Ax MS steers (MS dams) had greater measurements for rib-fat depth, carcass grade and marbling score, while MSx A steers (A dams) had greater separable rib bone measurements.

¹ Journal Paper No. 7209, Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station.

² Data derived from the Purdue University contributing project to NC-1 regional project, Improvement of Beef Cattle Through Breeding Methods.