德宏高峰牛肉品质分析

［目的］研究性别、部位对肉质的影响,了解德宏高峰牛肉质特性。［方法］选择放牧饲养的德宏高峰牛为试验动物,屠宰分割后取肉样,进行失水率、剪切力、蒸煮损失、肉色、水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪、灰分测定。［结果］阉割公牛枕头肉的L*值显著(P<0.05)高于公牛和母牛,并且母牛L*值显著(P<0.05)高于公牛。阉割公牛辣椒肉L*值显著(P<0.05)高于公牛。母牛辣椒肉失水率显著(P<0.05)低于阉割公牛,阉割公牛眼肉的水分显著(P<0.05)高于公牛和母牛。辣椒肉剪切力极限著(P<0.01)低于眼肉和枕头肉,显著(P<0.05)低于霖肉。枕头肉L*值极限著(P<0.01)高于霖肉,显著(P<0.05)高于眼肉和辣椒肉,b值显著(P<0.05)高于霖肉。眼肉水分极限著(P<0.01)低于枕头肉、霖肉和辣椒肉。眼肉粗蛋白极限著(P<0.01)高于霖肉。［结论］性别对肉色有显著影响,对失水率和水分含量有影响。部位对肉质有显著影响。市售德宏高峰牛牛肉品质有待进一步提高。     

Application of highly differentiated SNPs between Japanese Black and Holstein to a breed assignment test between Japanese Black and F1 (Japanese Black x Holstein) and Holstein

Two taurine breeds, Japanese Black and Holstein, established from geographically distant origins and selected for different uses, beef and dairy, were extensively genotyped using a genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip with more than 1000 animals of each breed. The genetic structure was examined by principal component analysis, in which the first principal component clearly separated the two breeds and explained more than 15% of the variance. Highly differentiated SNPs were detected throughout the genome, some of which were clustered within small regions on BTA4 (79.2–79.7 Mb, Btau4.0) and BTA26 (22.2–23.6 Mb). A breed assignment test was developed using 18 highly differentiated SNPs to distinguish Japanese Black from F₁ (Japanese Black × Holstein) and Holstein. The error rate that an F₁ or Holstein animal is misjudged as Japanese Black was expected to be < 0.8%, while the error rate that a Japanese Black animal is misjudged as F₁ or Holstein was expected to be < 0.001%. This test provides a reliable and powerful method to detect breed label falsification in retail beef.     

Determining beef carcass retail product and fat yields within 1 hour postmortem.

Hot carcasses from 220 steers (progeny of Hereford or Angus dams mated to Angus, Charolais, Galloway, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Longhorn, Nellore, Piedmontese, Pinzgauer, Salers, or Shorthorn sires) were used to develop equations to estimate weights and percentages of retail product (RP) and trimmable fat (TF) yields. Independent variables examined were 1) 12-13th rib fat probe (12RFD), 2) 10-11th rib fat probe (10RFD), 3) external fat score (EFS), 4) percentage of internal fat estimated hot (H%KPH), 5) hindquarter muscling score (HQMS), and 6) hot carcass weight (HCW). Right sides of the carcasses were fabricated into boneless retail cuts, trimmed to .76 cm of subcutaneous and visible intermuscular fat, and weighed. Cuts were trimmed to 0 cm of subcutaneous and visible intermuscular fat and reweighed. Multiple linear regression equations containing 12RFD, EFS, H%KPH, and HCW accounted for 95 and 89% of the variation in weight of total RP at .76 and 0 cm of fat trim, respectively. When weights of RP from the four primal cuts (.76 and 0 cm of fat trim) were the dependent variables, equations consisting of 12RFD, EFS, H%KPH, and HCW accounted for 93 to 84% of the variation. Hot carcass equations accounted for 83% of the variation in weight of total TF at both .76 and 0 cm of fat trim. Furthermore, equations from hot carcass data accounted for 54 and 51% of the variation in percentage of total RP and 57 and 50% of the variation in percentage of RP from the four primal cuts at .76 and 0 cm of fat trim, respectively. Hot carcass prediction equations accounted for 72% of the variation in percentage of total TF at both fat trim levels. Hot carcass equations were equivalent or superior to equations formulated from chilled carcass traits.     

Estimates of subprimal yields from beef carcasses as affected by USDA grades, subcutaneous fat trim level, and carcass sex class and type.

One hundred beef carcasses were selected to represent the mix of cattle slaughtered across the United States. Selection criteria included breed type (60% British/continental European, 20% Bos indicus, and 20% dairy carcasses), sex class (beef and Bos indicus: 67% steers, 33% heifers; dairy: 100% steers), USDA quality grade (4% Prime, 53% Choice, and 43% Select), USDA yield grade (10% YG 1, 43% YG 2, 40% YG 3, and 7% YG 4), and carcass weight (steers: 272.2 to 385.6 kg, heifers: 226.8 to 340.2 kg). One side of each carcass was fabricated into boneless subprimals and minor cuts following Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications. After fabrication, subprimals were trimmed progressively of fat in .64-cm increments beginning with a maximum of 2.54 cm and ending with .64 cm. Linear regression models were developed for each individual cut, including fabrication byproduct items (bone, fat trim) to estimate the percentage yield of those cuts reported by USDA Market News. Strip loin, top sirloin butt, and gooseneck rounds from heifers tended to have a higher percentage yield at the same USDA yield grade than the same cuts from steers, possibly resulting from increased fat deposition on heifers. Percentage of fat trimmed from dairy steers was 2 to 3% lower than that from other sex-class/carcass types; however, due to increased percentage of bone and less muscle, dairy steers were lower-yielding. Fat trimmed from carcasses ranged from 7.9 to 15.6% as the maximum trim level decreased from 2.54 to .64 cm.     

秦川肉牛新品系公牛肉用性能研究

 选取发育正常、健康无病、经标准化育肥、年龄为24月龄的秦川肉牛新品系公牛5头进行屠宰及胴体分割,测定屠宰率、净肉率、胴体产肉率、肉骨比等产肉性能指标,并对里脊、西冷、眼肉、上脑、臀肉、胸肉、黄瓜条、牛腩、肋条肉、牛前10个部位取样进行水分、粗灰分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪、剪切力、失水率、系水力和熟肉率8项指标的测定。结果表明,秦川肉牛新品系公牛日增重、屠宰率、产肉率、胴体产肉率、肉骨比等生产性能较传统秦川牛均有较大幅度提高,经过标准化育肥,24月龄时已具备良好的肉用生产性能,达到国际优质肉牛品种标准;秦川肉牛新品系公牛胴体不同部位间肉品质差别较大,通过对其10个部位牛肉品质评定,西冷、上脑、里脊、眼肉为高档肉,肋条肉、臀肉、黄瓜条为中档肉,牛腩、胸肉、牛前为低档肉。     

Retail cut yields of Rambouillet wether lambs fed the beta-adrenergic agonist L644,969.

Twenty Rambouillet wether lambs were given ad libitum access to a diet with (BAA, n = 10) or without (control, n = 10) 1 ppm of the beta-adrenergic agonist L644,969. Lambs were fed to a constant slaughter weight end point of 54.5 kg. Carcasses were fabricated to yield bone-in and boneless cuts that were trimmed progressively to 1.27, .64, .32, and .00 cm of s.c. fat remaining. Addition of BAA did not affect growth traits. Actual and adjusted fat thickness, body wall thickness, and percentage of kidney-pelvic fat did not differ between control and BAA lambs. However, BAA increased longissimus muscle area, longissimus muscle depth, and leg score while decreasing USDA yield grade. The BAA increased carcass conformation scores and decreased flank lean color scores. No other carcass quality measurements were affected by BAA. Addition of BAA did not affect overall carcass yields of bone-in retail cuts. However, BAA increased overall carcass yields of boneless retail cuts regardless of fat trim level. The BAA increased bone-in leg yield. Yield of boneless sirloin, bone-in loin and boneless loin were not affected by BAA. For these cuts, the percentage change from the control was highly dependent on fat trim level. There was no difference in short-cut, shank-off, semiboneless leg yield between control and BAA. Addition of BAA did not affect yield of bone-in rack regardless of fat trim level. However, BAA greatly increased yield of boneless ribeye. The BAA did not affect yield of bone-in or boneless shoulder.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Using current on-line carcass evaluation parameters to estimate boneless and bone-in pork carcass yield as influenced by trim level.

The objective of this study was to develop prediction equations for estimating proportional carcass yield to a variety of external trim levels and bone-in and boneless pork primal cuts. Two hundred pork carcasses were selected from six U.S. pork processing plants and represented USDA carcass grades (25% USDA #1, 36% USDA #2, 25% USDA #3, and 14% USDA #4). Carcasses were measured (prerigor and after a 24 h chill) for fat and muscle depth at the last rib (LR) and between the third and fourth from last rib (TH) with a Hennessy optical grading probe (OGP). Carcasses were shipped to Texas A&M University, where one was randomly assigned for fabrication. Selected sides were fabricated to four lean cuts (ham, loin, Boston butt, and picnic shoulder) then fabricated progressively into bone-in (BI) and boneless (BL) four lean cuts (FLC) trimmed to .64, .32, and 0 cm of s.c. fat, and BL 0 cm trim, seam fat removed, four lean cuts (BLS-OFLC). Total dissected carcass lean was used to calculate the percentage of total carcass lean (PLEAN). Lean tissue subsamples were collected for chemical fat-free analysis and percentage carcass fat-free lean (FFLEAN) was determined. Longissimus muscle area and fat depth also were collected at the 10th and 11th rib interface during fabrication. Regression equations were developed from linear carcass and OGP measurements predicting FLC of each fabrication point. Loin muscle and fat depths from the OPG obtained on warm, prerigor carcasses at the TH interface were more accurate predictors of fabrication end points than warm carcass probe depth obtained at the last rib or either of the chilled carcass probe sites (probed at TH or LR). Fat and loin muscle depth obtained via OGP explained 46.7, 52.6, and 57.1% (residual mean square error [RMSE] = 3.30, 3.19, and 3.04%) of the variation in the percentage of BI-FLC trimmed to .64, .32, and 0 cm of s.c. fat, respectively, and 49.0, 53.9, and 60.7% (RMSE = 2.91, 2.81, and 2.69%) of the variation in the percentage of BL-FLC trimmed to .64, .32, and 0 cm of s.c. fat, respectively. Fat and loin muscle depth from warm carcass OGP probes at the TH interface accounted for 62.4 and 63.5% (RMSE = 3.38 and 3.27%) of the variation in PLEAN and FFLEAN, respectively. These equations provide an opportunity to estimate pork carcass yield for a variety of procurement end point equations using existing on-line techniques.     

鲁西黄牛背截面指标为参数的胴体产肉率回归分析

７头商品鲁西牛胴体第１１肋后缘截面的客观测量值及相应的其它屠宰数据应用ＳＡＳ软件对胴体产肉率进行了回归分析,结果表明半胴体重、皮下脂肪厚、背眼肌面积、腔脂％组建的四元方程对后腿分割肉产率的预测力最大,其次是后躯分割肉产率、全部可食肉产率、主要分割肉产率对全部分割肉产率的预测力最小。眼肌面积是主要分割肉产率最重要的独立预测指标;腔脂％对全部分割肉产率、全部可食肉产率、后躯分割肉产率单独的预测作用最大     

Effect of ractopamine on growth, carcass traits, and fasting heat production of U.S. contemporary crossbred and Chinese Meishan pure- and crossbred pigs.

Twenty-four U.S. crossbred (Duroc x White composite; D x Wc; 83.9 kg), 24 purebred Meishan (M; 59.4 kg), and 24 Meishan x White composite crossbred (M x Wc; 83.4 kg) barrows were allotted within genotype to a 16% CP corn-soybean meal diet or this basal diet + 20 ppm of ractopamine and allowed ad libitum access to feed for 52 d. No genotype x ractopamine interactions were detected (P greater than .05) in pigs for growth, lean cuts, ham and loin characteristics, leaf fat and visceral organ weights, fasting whole-animal heat production, and carcass traits except longissimus muscle area (LMA). The LMA was increased by ractopamine in D x Wc and M x Wc pigs (P less than .05) but not in M pigs. Compared with D x Wc and M x Wc pigs, M pigs had lower ADG, ADFI, and gain to feed ratio (G/F), shorter carcasses, and lower dressing percentage, LMA, predicted amount of muscle, weights of trimmed picnic, loin, and ham cuts, percentage of ham lean, and CP in ham lean, but heavier liver, kidneys, pancreas, and entire gastrointestinal tract with greater percentage of ham fat and ham bone (P less than .05). The M x Wc pigs had lower ADG, G/F, dressing percentage, LMA, amount of muscle, weights of trimmed cuts, and percentage of ham lean but heavier lungs, pancreas, stomach, and large intestine than did D x Wc pigs (P less than .05). Supplemental ractopamine increased ADG, G/F, dressing percentage, amount of muscle, trimmed loin weight, percentage of ham lean, and CP in ham lean and decreased weights of heart, lungs, kidneys, and pancreas in pigs (P less than .05). Neither genotype nor ractopamine had any effect on 4- to 24-h postprandial whole-animal heat production of pigs (P greater than .05). These results indicate that ractopamine will improve growth performance and carcass leanness in pure- and crossbred Meishan pigs.     

Yield grade and carcass weight effects on the cutability of lamb carcasses fabricated into innovative style subprimals.

Lamb carcass (n = 100) were selected from USDA yield grades (YG) 2, 3, and 4 and carcass weight (CW) groups 20.4 to 24.9, 25.0 to 29.5, and 29.6 to 34.0 kg. Lamb carcass were fabricated into semiboneless and boneless subprimals and trimmed to three s.c. fat trim levels: .64, .25, and .00 cm of fat remaining. Innovative subprimals were fabricated and yields were calculated for the subprimals and dissectible components (lean, bone, connective tissue, external fat, and seam fat) from each of the various subprimals. Carcass weight as a main effect in a two-way analysis of variance did not account for a significant amount of the variation in yield among trimmed subprimals or the percentage of the dissectible components, but USDA YG was a significant main effect in determining variation in yield for many of the subprimals or dissectible components. Muscle seaming of shoulders and legs and removal of excessive tails on the loin and rack resulted in a majority of the seam fat being removed from these cuts. Dissection data clearly showed that seam fat is a major component of rack and shoulder cuts and with increasing fatness or higher numerical yield grade there are clearly increased amounts of this depot. Increased trimming of external fat magnifies and draws more attention to the amount of seam fat remaining. Production of heavy, lean lambs would be more useful in an innovative type of program because of the larger-sized muscles. Heavy, fat lambs would not be as useful because of their decreased yields and excess seam fat located in cuts that cannot be muscled-seamed because of the loss of retail cut integrity. Seam fat was highly correlated to percentage of kidney and pelvic fat and to external fat thickness and with USDA yield grade but was not strongly correlated to carcass weight.     

Characterization of cattle of a five-breed diallel: VI. Fat deposition patterns of serially slaughtered bulls

Dissection and chemical analysis data from 197 bulls of 15 breedtypes were used to examine the distribution of total fat (TOTFAT) among carcass fat (CFAT), viscera fat (VIF), kidney plus pelvic fat (KPF) and blood fat (BLF). The bulls were obtained from a five-breed diallel involving Angus, Brahman, Hereford, Holstein and Jersey; reciprocal crosses were pooled. One or two bulls of each breedtype were slaughtered at each of seven ages: 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24 and 30 mo. An allometric equation was utilized to describe growth rate of each fat depot relative to either TOTFAT or carcass side weight (CSW). The pooled within-breedtype differential growth rates obtained from the allometric equation indicated that as TOTFAT or CSW increased, the proportion composed of CFAT and KPF increased (growth coefficients significantly greater than 1), whereas the proportion composed of VIF and BLF decreased (growth coefficients significantly less than 1). Holstein and Jersey tended to have more CFAT than Hereford, Angus and Brahman. Jersey had more KPF than other breeds. Crossbreds exhibited positive heterosis for CFAT and VIF, and negative heterosis for KPF. On a constant CSW basis, there were no significant breedtype differences in TOTFAT: nevertheless, differences in fat distribution among breedtypes persisted. There were different amounts of fat at the depots studied, but fat growth coefficients relative to TOTFAT tended to be homogeneous among breedtypes.     

Genetic variability of Wagyu cattle estimated by statistical approaches

The genetic evaluation of economically important traits utilizes estimates of genetic variability, which are represented by heritability. This review summarizes the published heritabilities of traits estimated in Wagyu cattle. Two different mean heritabilities, unweighted and weighted by standard errors, were calculated. In Japanese Black cattle, the average unweighted and weighted direct heritabilities of birth weight were 0.35 and 0.28, respectively, whereas the respective maternal heritabilities were 0.17 and 0.07. The mean unweighted heritability of calf market weight was estimated to be 0.30 in Japanese Black cattle. The mean unweighted heritability of daily gain during performance testing was 0.29 in Japanese Black and 0.40 in Japanese Shorthorn cattle. In Japanese Black cattle, the unweighted mean heritability was 0.48 for carcass weight, 0.46 for rib‐eye area, 0.38 for rib thickness, 0.39 for subcutaneous fat thickness, and 0.55 for marbling. The mean weighted heritability of the calving interval was low, and estimated to be 0.05. In general, the heritabilities estimated in Wagyu cattle were similar to those estimated in other beef breeds.     

8个牛品种的大理石花纹评分相关基因变异的微卫星DNA池分析

本研究以8个牛品种为研究对象,利用与大理石花纹评分基因相关的7个微卫星位点结合DNA池分析技术,探讨微卫星DNA多态性与8个牛品种大理石花纹评分间的关系,并根据性状同质性原理预测品种组合,以加快生产出高端"雪花"牛肉。结果表明:日本和牛与荷斯坦牛、安格斯牛、渤海黑牛的相似性系数均超过0.8,而日本和牛与其他牛品种的的相似性系数均小于0.8。利用MEGA4软件采用邻接法进行聚类,利木赞牛与西门塔尔牛先聚合在一起,再与草原红牛聚合;渤海黑牛与鲁西黄牛2个地方良种聚合在一起,以上5个品种聚为第1大类。荷斯坦牛与日本和牛聚合,再与安格斯牛聚在一起,它们聚为第2大类。根据本研究结果和国外肉牛杂交生产实践,从牛肉大理石花纹性状的同质性出发,建议利用日本和牛、荷斯坦牛为亲本,杂交生产高档"雪花"牛肉,以解决我国的肉牛牛源短缺问题。     

Characteristics of developmental changes in the kinetics of glucose and urea in Japanese Black calves: comparison with Holstein calves

The current study was conducted to clarify the characteristics of glucose and urea kinetics in male Japanese Black calves, using a glucose and urea dilution method with stable isotopes, at preweaning (3 wk of age) and postweaning (13 and 26 wk of age) stages, in comparison with the kinetics of glucose and urea in male Holstein calves. Six Japanese Black and 6 Holstein calves were arranged in a 2 (breed) x 3 (stage) factorial block design. These 12 suckling calves were fed only whole milk, offered concentrate and or chardgrass hay after 3 wk of age, and weaned at 6 wk of age. Under steady-state conditions, glucose challenges (1.0 mg/kg of BW; [U-13C]d-glucose) and urea challenges (both 2.2 mg/kg of BW; [13C]urea and [15N2]urea) were performed at the 3 stages examined. There were no significant differences in plasma glucose concentrations between Japanese Black and Holstein calves at any stage, but the glucose concentrations at 3 wk of age were greater (P <0.05) than those at 13 wk of age in both breeds. The glucose pool size in Japanese Black calves was smaller (P <0.05) than that in Holstein calves at all stages. Within each breed, there were no significant differences between the glucose pool sizes at 3 and 13 wk of age, but the glucose pool size was larger (P <0.05) at 26 wk of age. Moreover, Japanese Black calves had greater glucose irreversible loss rates (P <0.01) than Holstein calves at 3 wk of age, and the glucose irreversible loss rates were less (P <0.05) on and after 13 wk of age in both breeds. Japanese Black calves had greater plasma urea N concentrations (P <0.05) than Holstein calves at all stages, and in both breeds, the urea N concentrations increased (P <0.05) with age. The urea pool size was smaller (P <0.01) in Japanese Black calves than in Holstein calves at all stages, and in both breeds, the urea pool size increased (P <0.05) with age. In comparison with Holstein calves, Japanese Black calves had greater urea irreversible loss rates (P <0.05) on and after 13 wk of age and greater urea recycling rates (P <0.05) at 26 wk of age. In addition, in both breeds, urea irreversible loss rates and urea recycling rates increased (P <0.05) with age. We conclude that Japanese Black calves have partially different glucose and urea kinetics from Holstein calves and that the kinetics of these metabolites in both Japanese Black and Holstein calves are strongly influenced by weaning.     

中国荷斯坦奶公犊不同胴体等级间产肉性能及肉质差异研究

本研究以400头中国荷斯坦奶公犊为试验动物,研究不同胴体等级间产肉性能及肉质差异。对不同胴体等级间产肉性能研究结果发现,除分割肉产率外,其它指标随着等级增加而增大;不同胴体等级间奶公犊的胴体重、分割肉重、优质部位肉重等指标存在显著差异(P<0.05);对不同胴体等级间肉质研究结果发现,不同体形等级间奶公犊肉质差异不显著(P>0.05);随脂肪等级的增加,犊牛肉的蛋白质含量、脂肪含量、感官品质升高,含水量、蒸煮损失、剪切力、色度值L*降低。不同脂肪等级的犊牛肉,除脂肪含量、多汁性存在显著差异外(P<0.05),其它肉质指标均无差异(P>0.05)。试验结果表明,胴体等级能够在一定程度上反映荷斯坦奶公犊的产肉性能,但是对犊牛肉肉质的预测性较低。     

Identification of leptin gene polymorphisms associated with carcass traits and fatty acid composition in Japanese Black cattle

Previous studies have indicated that some leptin gene polymorphisms were associated with economically important traits in cattle breeds. However, polymorphisms in the leptin gene have not been reported thus far in Japanese Black cattle. Here, we aimed to identify the leptin gene polymorphisms which are associated with carcass traits and fatty acid composition in Japanese Black cattle. We sequenced the full‐length coding sequence of leptin gene for eight Japanese Black cattle. Sequence comparison revealed eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Three of these were predicted to cause amino acid substitutions: Y7F, R25C and A80V. Then, we genotyped these SNPs in two populations (JB1 with 560 animals and JB2 with 450 animals) and investigated the effects on the traits. Y7F in JB1 and A80V in JB2 were excluded from statistical analysis because the minor allele frequencies were low (< 0.1). Association analysis revealed that Y7F had a significant effect on the dressed carcass weight in JB2; R25C had a significant effect on C18:0 and C14:1 in JB1 and JB2, respectively; and A80V had a significant effect on C16:0, C16:1, C18:1, monounsaturated fatty acid and saturated fatty acid in JB1. The results suggested that these SNPs could be used as an effective marker for the improvement of Japanese Black cattle.     

Conception rate of Holstein and Japanese Black cattle following embryo transfer in southwestern Japan

This study aimed to quantify and compare conception rates to embryo transfer (ET) of Holstein and Japanese Black cattle in southwestern Japan. A 10‐year retrospective epidemiological survey was conducted. The recipient numbers for Holstein and Japanese Black cattle was 621 and 527, respectively. Conception rates of Holstein and Japanese Black cattle during the study period were 45.4% and 42.3%, respectively. There was no significant difference between both breeds. However, a different trend of conception rate to ET in Holstein and Japanese Black cattle was observed. In Holstein cattle, conception rate in August to October was lower than in the other months and was significantly lower (p < .05) than in April. Particularly, conception rate in October of Holstein cattle was the lowest (31.0%). In Japanese Black cattle, conception rates in December (24.2%) and January (31.3%) were lower than in the other months. Conception rate of Japanese Black cattle declined as the temperature–humidity index (THI) decreased, exhibiting significantly lower levels in the ≤45 THI class than in any other THI class (p < .05). By contrast, in Holstein cattle, no relationship was observed between conception rate and THI on the day of ET. These observations suggest the importance of appropriate management that considers seasonal reactivity in each breed.     

Estimation of the carcass composition from a cross-section of the rib-loin from crossbred Japanese Black × Limousin F2 cattle by computer image analysis

The carcass composition of crossbred Japanese Black × Limousin F2 cattle was examined in order to find an accurate carcass composition equation. The test animals included 17 steers and 17 heifers. The 28 image measurements from the area encircling the vertical line to the thoracic vertebra and the line from the thoracic vertebra between the sixth and seventh rib‐bones were measured by computer image analysis. The relationships between the 29 parameters that added the carcass left side weight of the animal and the carcass composition were suggested. The carcass composition included muscle weight, muscle ratio, fat weight and fat ratio. The carcass composition from steers was estimated by an equation composed of these three or four parameters (R² = 90.80%, 79.30%, 90.75% and 73.70%, respectively). The selected parameters were measured without cutting the thoracic vertebra. The carcass composition from heifers was estimated by an equation composed of two to four parameters (R² = 96.15%, 90.98%, 93.60% and 88.22%, respectively). The parameters for the estimation of the muscle and fat weight, and muscle and fat ratio are very similar. Furthermore, the equations using the parameters could estimate the carcass composition from the Japanese Black × Limousin cattle resource population.     

Growth traits and composition of two- and three-way-cross intact male progeny of Bos taurus and Bos indicus X Bos taurus dams

Feedlot traits, carcass traits and distribution of commercial cuts of crossbred intact male progeny (n = 556) from young and mature Hereford, Red Poll, Hereford X Red Poll, Red Poll X Hereford, Angus X Hereford, Angus X Charolais, Brahman X Hereford and Brahman X Angus dams were evaluated. First-calf heifers were bred to Red Angus bulls; Santa Gertrudis sires were used for each cow's second and third breeding seasons. Calves from these young dams were slaughtered at 13 mo. Calves of mature dams were all sired by Limousin bulls and slaughtered at 12 mo. Dam breed was a major source of variation in most bull traits. Progeny of Brahman-cross dams were inferior (P less than .01) in daily gain, final weight, carcass weight and in edible cuts/day of age compared with progeny from Bos taurus dams. Intact male progeny of Angus X Charolais dams ranked highest in longissimus area, cutability, and edible cuts/day of age. The range of dam breed means in percentage of steak, roast, bone-in cuts (chuck short ribs and back ribs), short plate and thin cuts, and lean trim was just over 1%. Greater variation among dam breeds existed in fat measurements. Analyses in which Hereford-Red Poll diallel data for young dams and mature dams were combined showed positive maternal heterosis for dressing percentage (P less than .05), carcass weight (P less than .05), carcass weight/day of age (P less than .05), estimated carcass fat (P less than .05), fat thickness (P less than .01) and marbling score (P less than .01). Reciprocal effects were inconsequential. Results illustrate the importance of dam breed-type effects in formulating breeding strategies for commercial beef herds.     

Maternal grandsire,granddam, and sire breed effects on growth and carcass traits of crossbred cattle

Postweaning growth, feed efficiency, and carcass traits were analyzed on 1,422 animals obtained by mating F1 cows to F1 (Belgian Blue x British breeds) or Charolais sires. Cows were obtained from mating Hereford, Angus, and MARC IIIHereford, 1/4 Angus, 1/4 Pinzgauer, and 1/4 Red Poll) dams to Hereford or Angus (British breeds), Tuli, Boran, Brahman, or Belgian Blue sires. Breed groups were fed in replicated pens and slaughtered serially in each of 2 yr. Postweaning average daily gain; live weight; hot carcass weight; fat depth; longissimus area; estimated kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (percentage); percentage Choice; marbling score; USDA yield grade; retail product yield (percentage); retail product weight; fat yield (percentage); fat weight; bone yield (percentage); and bone weight were analyzed in this population. Quadratic regressions of pen mean weight on days fed and of cumulative ME consumption on days fed were used to estimate gain, ME consumption and efficiency (Mcal of ME/kg of gain) over time (0 to 200 d on feed), and weight (300 to 550 kg) intervals. Maternal grandsire breed was significant (P < 0.01) for all traits. Maternal granddam breed (Hereford, Angus, or MARC III)was significant (P < 0.05) only for fat depth, USDA yield grade, retail product yield, fat yield, fat weight, and bone yield. Sire breed was significant (P < 0.05) for live weight, hot carcass weight, longissimus area, and bone weight. Sex class was a significant (P < 0.001) source of variation for all traits except for percentage Choice, marbling score, retail product yield, and fat yield. Interactions between maternal grandsire and sire breed were nonexistent. Sire and grandsire breed effects can be optimized by selection and use of appropriate crossbreeding systems.