Characteristics of Biceps femoris and Longissimus thoracis muscles of five cattle breeds grown in a feedlot system

Our experiment was conducted to study physical quality and chemical composition of meat of Angus (A), Hereford (H), Friesian Holstein (FH), Australian Commercial Cross (ACC) and Murray Grey (MG) cattle breeds grown in a feedlot system. Significant differences were observed among five cattle breeds for cooking loss, tenderness, fatty acid composition, collagen and cholesterol content of meat. However, pH, water‐holding capacity, water, ash, fat and crude protein contents were not different. Cholesterol content of meat of A and FH was lower (P < 0.01) than that of H, ACC and MG. Acidity (pH), cooking loss, shear force, water, ash, crude protein, collagen and cholesterol content of Biceps femoris muscle were higher than those of Longissimus thoracis muscle, but water‐holding capacity and fat content were lower. Unsaturated fatty acid content of Biceps femoris muscle was higher (P < 0.01) than that of Longissimus thoracis. In conclusion, the differences among cattle breeds had a great effect on cooking loss, shear force, collagen, fatty acid composition and cholesterol of meat, but had little effect on water‐holding capacity, pH and proximate composition of meat. The meat of Hereford cattle was the best quality, because of the lowest shear force, cooking loss and collagen. Longissimus thoracis muscle was relatively better in cooking loss, tenderness and collagen content than Biceps femoris muscle.