Comparison of the growth and meat tenderness of Brahman and F1 Senepol � Brahman steers

Author(s)
Schatz, T J
Thomas, S
Geesink, Geert
Publication Date
2014
Abstract
The growth of 116 Brahman (BRAH) and 96 F1 Senepol × Brahman (F1 SEN) steers grazing improved Buffel pasture in the Northern Territory was compared. Average growth was 10 kg higher in F1 SEN during grazing in the 9 months following weaning. Twenty-five steers of each genotype were compared for feedlot performance and meat quality. There was no significant difference in feedlot growth over 73 days in a commercial feedlot. On average F1 SEN carcasses graded two boning groups lower in the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading system. While M. longissimus samples from both genotypes were quite tender (shear force <4 kg), F1 SEN samples were found to be significantly more tender than BRAH (-0.44 kg) by shear force testing. These results indicate that crossbreeding with a tropically adapted Bos taurus breed, such as the Senepol, may be a viable method for cattle producers with Brahman herds in northern Australia to improve the meat quality of the cattle they produce.
Citation
Animal Production Science, 54(10), p. 1867-1870
ISSN
1836-5787
1836-0939
Link
Language
en
Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Title
Comparison of the growth and meat tenderness of Brahman and F1 Senepol � Brahman steers
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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