Genetics of meat quality traits in two tropically adapted genotypes of beef cattle: 2. Influence of tenderstretching

Author(s)
Iker, Christie
Wolcott, Matthew Lee
Johnston, David
Thompson, John Mitchell
Publication Date
2007
Abstract
Tender stretching (TS) is an alternative means of hanging beef carcasses which, when compared to sides conventionally hung by the Achilles tendon (AT), minimises the potential for muscle shortening during rigor in the high priced cuts of the rump and loin. A total of 1,939 tropically adapted steers of two genotypes (889 Brahmans (BRAH) and 1,050 Tropical Composites (TCOMP)) were used to estimate the effect of TS on the genetic parameters of meat quality traits. Measurements of meat quality traits (peak force (PF), cooking loss (CLoss) and compression (CMP)) were performed on feedlot finished steers. Heritabilities of meat quality traits were moderate in both genotypes. For BRAH heritability estimates were 0.33, 0.15 and 0.07 for PF, CMP CLoss, respectively. The heritabilities for TCOMP were 0.30, 0.27 and 0.21, respectively. Use of TS resulted in a proportional reduction in phenotypic and additive variances in comparison to conventionally hung carcases. As a result, the heritabilities of TS meat quality traits are similar to those measured on conventionally hung carcases. Despite this, the response to selection upon TS measurements will be significantly reduced, in comparison to AT, due to the reduction in additive variance. However, the reduced phenotypic variances for TS measurements suggest that commercial use of TS in the abattoir will lessen the need to select for tenderness in beef genetically.
Citation
Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, v.17, p. 360-363
ISBN
1921208139
ISSN
1328-3227
Link
Publisher
Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG)
Title
Genetics of meat quality traits in two tropically adapted genotypes of beef cattle: 2. Influence of tenderstretching
Type of document
Conference Publication
Entity Type
Publication

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink