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Carcass Characteristics of Polled herefold x Angus, Charolais x Angus, Simmental x Angus and Holstein x Angus Steers Finished on High Silage Diets^{1 , 2,}

Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29631

Abstract

Carcass data and weight gains were evaluated over a 2-year period for 180 crossbred steers representing four different crosses. Steers were fed a high silage diet with limited corn and required protein, mineral and vitamin supplements. All animsls were treated alike and were slaughtered at high Good to minimum Choice endpoints. The Holstein x Angus steers gained more (P<.05) weight than the other three crossbred groups. Simmental x Angus steers gained significantly more weight than the Polled Hereford or Charolais steers. Polled Hereford x Angus steers had the largest (P<.05) amount of external fat over the longissimus muscle. Carcasses of Holstein x Angus steers and Polled Hereford x Angus steers had smaller longissimus muscle areas (P<.05) and higher (P<.05) yield grades than carcasses of either the Charolais or Simmental crosses. The Holstein x Angus steers had more (P<.05) marbling than the other three groups and they graded higher (P<.05) than the Charolais or Simmental crossbred steers. The Polled Hereford x Angus steers produced steaks that tended to score higher on all sensory panel ratings than steaks from the other three breed groups. These scores were significantly higher than those for the lower scoring group for each rating system. A further analysis of the second year data shows that the Polled Hereford x Angus steers produced Choice carcasses and exhibited more (P<.05) external fat at least 30 days earlier than the Charolais x Angus or Simmental x Angus steers. However, both the Charolais and the Simmental crossbred steers reached the requirements for minimum Choice grade on a high silage diet, provided they were fed for a longer period and to a heavier weight than the Polled Hereford x Angus steers.

¹ Published as Journal paper no. 1731 by permission of the Director of the South Carolina Agr. Exp. Sta. Contribution from the regional projects S-10 and S-123.

² Appreciation is extended to Greenwood Packing

³ Dept. of Anim. Sci.

⁴ Exp. Statist. Unit.