Evaluation of Angus, Charolais and Hereford as terminal sire breeds on Hereford and first-cross cows. II. Carcase characteristics and retail yield of progeny

The characteristics and retail yield of carcases of 482 Angus, Charolais and Hereford sired progeny out of straightbred Hereford (HxH), and first-cross Brahman x Hereford (BxH), Simmental x Hereford (SxH) and Friesian x Hereford (FxH) dams were evaluated. The cattle had been raised and slaughtered for either the vealer (both sexes), yearling domestic (both sexes) or the heavy export steer market. The data were analysed within market type, and at a constant age at slaughter (281, 478 and 829 days for vealer, yearling domestic and heavy export carcases respectively) and also at a constant hot P8 fat depth (4.6, 7.8 and 14.9 mm for the three markets respectively) and constant hot carcase weight (160, 200 and 343 kg for the three markets respectively). At a constant age, carcases of Charolais sired progeny were significantly (P < 0.05) heavier (8-16%, depending on market type), leaner, had larger eye muscle area and higher dressing percentage than those of Angus and Hereford sired progeny. This resulted in 12 to 17% (P < 0.05) more kg of boneless saleable meat (retail yield) from carcasses of Charolais sired progeny. At a constant hot P8 fat depth, the magnitude of the sire breed differences increased, whereas at a constant hot carcase weight, the differences became non-significant or were reduced in magnitude. At a constant age, progeny of BxH dams had higher ( P < 0.05) dressing percentage than those of the other dam breeds for all market types except the vealer market. Progeny of FxH dams had more (P < 0.05) channel and kidney fat than those of the other dam breeds, even at a constant hot P8 fat depth. Retail yield, as a percentage of the boned side, was highest for carcases of progeny of BxH dams and lowest for those of progeny of FxH dams (70.2% and 70.3% v. 69.1% and 69.2%, for vealer and yearling domestic carcases respectively, at a constant age). Sire and dam breed effects for the individual primal cuts, as percentages of the boned side, were not significant for most of the primal cuts, and where significant, the differences were very small.