Performance, carcass traits and meat quality of Aberdeen Angus, Gascon, Holstein and Fleckvieh finishing bulls

Exploration of Microencapsulation of Arginine in Carnauba Wax (Copernicia prunifera) and Its Dietary Effect on the Quality of Beef

The objective of this exploratory study was to assess if microencapsulated arginine influences the physicochemical quality of beef. The study included three genetic groups: Angus, Hereford, and Angus × Hereford crossbreed. Two encapsulation systems were used with carnauba wax, at ratios of 3:1 and 2:1, carnauba wax:core (arginine), respectively. A control treatment was also included with no arginine addition. Encapsulated arginine with a 3:1 ratio increased redness by 19.66 at 28 d aged beef compared to the control and 2:1 ratio with values of 18.55 and 16.77, respectively (p = 0.01). Encapsulated arginine at a 3:1 ratio showed the lowest meat shear force values with 24.32 N at 28 d of ageing (p < 0.001). The Angus breed also had a low value of 24.02 N (p < 0.001). Finally, the highest values of intramuscular fat were observed with the inclusion of arginine in a 3:1 ratio. The fat value reached 2.12% with a 3:1 ratio (p = 0.002), while in the Angus breed it was 1.59%. The addition of carnauba wax-encapsulated arginine can improve meat quality. It enhances red color, tenderness, and marbling in bovine meat.

Modeling of Ethiopian Beef Meat Marbling Score Using Image Processing for Rapid Meat Grading

Meat characterized by a high marbling value is typically anticipated to display enhanced sensory attributes. This study aimed to predict the marbling scores of rib-eye, steaks sourced from the Longissimus dorsi muscle of different cattle types, namely Boran, Senga, and Sheko, by employing digital image processing and machine-learning algorithms. Marbling was analyzed using digital image processing coupled with an extreme gradient boosting (GBoost) machine learning algorithm. Meat texture was assessed using a universal texture analyzer. Sensory characteristics of beef were evaluated through quantitative descriptive analysis with a trained panel of twenty. Using selected image features from digital image processing, the marbling score was predicted with R2 (prediction) = 0.83. Boran cattle had the highest fat content in sirloin and chuck cuts (12.68% and 12.40%, respectively), followed by Senga (11.59% and 11.56%) and Sheko (11.40% and 11.17%). Tenderness scores for sirloin and chuck cuts differed among the three breeds: Boran (7.06 ± 2.75 and 3.81 ± 2.24, respectively), Senga (5.54 ± 1.90 and 5.25 ± 2.47), and Sheko (5.43 ± 2.76 and 6.33 ± 2.28 Nmm). Sheko and Senga had similar sensory attributes. Marbling scores were higher in Boran (4.28 ± 1.43 and 3.68 ± 1.21) and Senga (2.88 ± 0.69 and 2.83 ± 0.98) compared to Sheko (2.73 ± 1.28 and 2.90 ± 1.52). The study achieved a remarkable milestone in developing a digital tool for predicting marbling scores of Ethiopian beef breeds. Furthermore, the relationship between quality attributes and beef marbling score has been verified. After further validation, the output of this research can be utilized in the meat industry and quality control authorities.

Effects of herd management decisions on dairy cow longevity, farm profitability, and emissions of enteric methane - a simulation study of milk and beef production

Sustainable dairy and beef production provides environmental, economic, and social values that can potentially be maximized by optimizing herd management strategies. The length of a dairy cow's life is affected by, and affects, all three pillars of sustainability. Longevity in dairy cows is multifactorial and strongly dependent on herd management. Despite genetic improvements, the average time of culling for Swedish cows has barely changed and is currently at 2.6 lactations. This culling rate requires a high number of replacement heifers, generating high rearing costs for farmers. This study evaluated different herd management strategies to improve cow longevity and assessed the effects on enteric methane (CH4) emissions from the herd and the profitability of milk production and beef production from the dairy cows and their offspring. The base scenario, an average Swedish Holstein herd of 100 cows, was compared with seven scenarios simulated using a stochastic herd simulation model (SimHerd). Two of these scenarios involved improved health and survival of cows in the herd, three involved improved reproduction, one considered the consequences of keeping all surplus heifers in the herd, and one considered maximizing the use of X-sorted dairy semen and inseminating the rest of the herd with unsorted beef semen, to avoid surplus replacement heifers. Improved fertility had the greatest effect in increasing the productive life per cow, to 3.8 years compared with 2.8 in the base scenario, allowed for more use of beef semen, reduced the number of replacement heifers, and generated the highest herd profit (€98 per cow-year higher than base scenario). Keeping all surplus heifers instead of producing beef × dairy cross calves decreased the number of productive years by 0.8 and reduced profit by €22 per cow-year. The profit was highly associated with costs related to replacement heifers. The highest beef output (3 369 kg per year more than base scenario) was achieved by keeping all heifers and culling a high share of dairy cows, but this scenario also generated much higher enteric CH4 emissions (+1 257 kg per year). Improving health, survival, or fertility reduced enteric CH4 emissions by 90-255 kg per year, while total yearly beef production ranged from 59 kg less to 556 kg more than in the base scenario. Reducing the number of replacement heifers needed by improving cow reproductive performance is thus key to increasing cow longevity and profitability, while reducing enteric CH4 emissions from the herd without compromising milk and meat production.

Mean breed performance of the progeny from beef-on-dairy matings

Gains through breeding can be achieved through a combination of both between-breed and within-breed selection. Two suites of traits of particular interest to dairy producers when selecting beef bulls for mating to dairy females are calving-related attributes and the expected value of the subsequent calf, the latter usually being a function of expected carcass value. Estimated breed effects can be informative, particularly in the absence of across-breed genetic evaluations. The objective of the present study was to use a large national database of the progeny from beef-on-dairy matings to estimate the mean breed effects of the used beef sires. Calving performance (i.e., gestation length, calving difficulty score, and perinatal morality) as well as calf value were investigated; a series of slaughter-related traits (i.e., carcass metrics and age at slaughter) of the prime progeny were also investigated. Phenotypic data on up to 977,037 progeny for calving performance, 79,903 for calf price and 103,175 for carcass traits (including dairy × dairy progeny for comparative purposes) were used; sire breeds represented were Holstein-Friesian, Angus, Aubrac, Belgian Blue, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, Salers, and Simmental. Large interbreed differences existed. The mean gestation length of male calves from beef sires varied from 282.3 d (Angus) to 287.4 d (Limousin) which were all longer than the mean of 280.9 d for Holstein-Friesian sired male calves. Relative to a Holstein-Friesian sire, the odds of dystocia varied from 1.43 (Angus) to 4.77 (Belgian Blue) but, once adjusted for both the estimated maternal genetic merit of the dam and direct genetic merit of the calf for calving difficulty, the range in odds ratios shrunk. A difference of €125.4 existed in calf sale price between the progeny of the different beef breeds investigated which represented over twice the residual standard deviation in calf price within the day of sale-Angus was the cheapest while Charolais calves were, on average, the most expensive calves. Mean carcass weight of steers, not adjusted for age at slaughter or carcass fat, varied from 327.1 kg (Angus) to 363.2 kg (Belgian Blue) for the beef breeds with the mean carcass weight of Holstein-Friesian steer progeny being 322.4 kg. Belgian Blues had, on average, the best carcass conformation with the Herefords and Angus having the worst of all beef breeds. Angus and Hereford steers were slaughtered the youngest of all beef breeds but just 9 d younger than the average of all other beef breeds yet 24 d younger than Holstein-Friesian sired progeny. Clear breed differences in calving and carcass performance exist among beef breeds mated to dairy females. Those breeds excelling in calving performance were not necessarily the best for carcass merit.

Characteristics of meat production traits in the Hungarian Simmental herd selected for the simultaneous improvement of milk and meat production

Phenotypic and genetic trends, population genetic parameters, and the heritability and breeding values of the fattening and slaughter traits - namely muscularity score (MUS), final fattening weight (FFW), weight gain per day of life (WGD), slaughter weight (SLW), carcass weight (CAR), dressing percentage (DRP), bone-meat production per day of life (BMP), SEUROP conformation and fat coverage score (EUR, FAT), and meat percentage (MEP) - of 1162 Hungarian Simmental bulls were evaluated with the progeny test database of the Association of Hungarian Simmental Breeders. Trends were calculated by weighted linear regression analysis, while the population genetic parameters and breeding values used the BLUP (best linear unbiased prediction) animal model and general linear model (GLM). According to the results, the lowest heritability value (h 2 = 0.23 ) was found in FAT. In the case of MUS, EUR and MEP, the values were moderate (h 2 = 0.32 , 0.26 and 0.32), and in the case of the other traits, high heritability values (h 2  =  0.42-0.52) were estimated. The phenotypic trends of the fattening and slaughter traits of bull progeny born between 2001 and 2019 showed a stagnant direction. Between the sires, the differences in the breeding values for some traits (WDG, CAR and BMP) were large, and with other traits (DRP, EUR and FAT), small differences were found. According to the data of the genetic-trend calculation, the steepness values of the evaluated traits were positive, and the genetic trends showed a slightly improving direction in the estimated period.

Relationship between Beef Quality and Bull Breed

The beef industry in Poland heavily relies on the Polish Holstein-Friesian (PHF) breed, known for its primary use in dairy production, but which also contributes significantly to the beef supply. In contrast, the Limousine (LM), Hereford (HH), and Charolaise (CH) breeds have gained popularity due to their ideal specialized characteristics for beef production. As PHF continues to dominate the beef market, a thorough comparison of its beef quality and nutritional attributes with the three most popular beef breeds in Poland is essential. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by conducting a rigorous comparison. The experiment was carried out on the beef from 67 bulls kept in a free-stall system with standardized feeding. The highest total antioxidant status (TAS) was found in CH and was 147.5% higher than that in PHF. Also, compared with PHF, a large difference of 70% was observed in LM, while in HH it was only 6.25%. For degree of antioxidant potential (DAP), the highest concentration was found in LM, while CH had a slightly lower score than LM. PHF had the lowest scores for each of the analyzed parameters of protein fraction. For anserine, taurine, creatinine, and creatine content, the highest results were found for LM. For carnosine and coenzyme Q10, the highest values were found for CH. Overall, these results highlight the impact of maturity and breed on carcass composition and quality. Late-maturing breeds, such as LM and CH, tend to exhibit leaner carcasses with superior fatty acid profiles and antioxidant properties. This knowledge is valuable for producers, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding breed selection and production strategies to meet specific market demands for beef with the desired composition and quality.

Combining beef cattle and sheep in an organic system. I. Co-benefits for promoting the production of grass-fed meat and strengthening self-sufficiency

Numerous advantages of combining cattle and sheep have been demonstrated at the grazing-season level, but the effects of this practice on system self-sufficiency require system-level and longer-term studies. We established three grassland-based organic systems as separate farmlets: one mixed system combining beef cattle and sheep (MIX) and two specialised systems, beef cattle (CAT) and sheep (SH), to serve as reference points. These farmlets were managed for 4 years, to assess the benefits of combining beef cattle and sheep in promoting the production of grass-fed meat and strengthening system self-sufficiency. The ratio of cattle to sheep livestock units in MIX was 60:40. The surface area and stocking rate were similar across all systems. Calving and lambing were adjusted to grass growth to optimise grazing. Calves were pasture-fed from 3 months old on average until weaning in October, fattened indoors with haylage and slaughtered at 12-15 months. Lambs were pasture-fed from 1 month old on average until slaughter; if lambs were not ready for slaughter when the ewes mated, they were stall-finished with concentrates. The decision to supplement adult females with concentrate was based on the achievement of a target body condition score (BCS) at key periods. The decision to treat animals with anthelmintics was based on mean faecal egg excretion remaining below a certain threshold. A higher proportion of lambs were pasture-finished in MIX vs SH (P < 0.001) due to a higher growth rate (P < 0.001) which led to a lower age at slaughter (166 vs 188 days, P < 0.001). Ewe prolificacy and productivity were higher in MIX vs SH (P < 0.02 and P < 0.065, respectively). The levels of concentrate consumption and number of anthelmintic treatments in sheep were lower in MIX vs SH (P < 0.01 and P < 0.08). Cow productivity, calf performance, carcass characteristics and the level of external inputs used did not differ between systems. However, cow BW gain during the grazing season was higher in MIX vs CAT (P < 0.05). These outcomes validated our hypothesis that the association of beef cattle and sheep promoted the self-sufficient production of grass-fed meat in the sheep enterprise. It also promoted better ewe and cow BCS and BW at key stages of the reproduction cycle and better development of the females used for replacement, which may enhance animal and system resilience.

Environmental advantages of coproducing beef meat in dairy systems

Beef meat, one of the more environmentally costly animal-based foods, can be produced in two general ways, as the main product on specialised farms or as a co-product on dairy farms. In this study, two cases (a semi-confinement dairy farm (A) and a pasture-based dairy farm (B)) have been analysed by means of LCA to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the coproduction of beef meat. In both cases, purchased feed production was found to be the main cause of environmental impacts in most of the categories considered. Additionally, cow emissions to air were the main contributor for the global warming category. Comparing the two dairy systems, notably lower environmental impacts were obtained for B in 13 of the 18 categories analysed. Regarding CF, 8.10 and 8.88 kg CO₂eq/kg LW were obtained for A and B, respectively. These CF values were within the wide range found in the literature for beef meat (1.2-42.6 kg CO₂eq/kg LW). Beef calves and cull cows are an important output of dairy farming, so that coproduction enables milk and meat with lower CF and associated environmental impacts to be obtained. In addition, the variability of the data found in literature and the lack of LCA studies based on real data for beef meat coproduced on dairy farms evidence the importance of in-depth study of this interesting topic.

Carcass and Offal Yields of Farmed Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx) Males, as Affected by Age and Immunocastration

This study investigated the effects of immunocastration and slaughter age on the carcass yield performance of intensively farmed common eland males. Eighteen male eland (five immunocastrated juveniles, three intact juveniles, five immunocastrated sub-adults, and five intact sub-adults) were finished for four months, after which their carcass, offal, primal cut, and individual muscle yields were determined. Juveniles were ~6 months of age at the start of the experiment, while sub-adults were ~1.5 years old. Primal cuts were dissected to determine the percentage yields of meat, bones (with tendons), separable fat, and trimmings. Immunocastration had no effect on offal or carcass yields. While sub-adults had increased individual muscle yields, juveniles had greater proportionate yields of primal cuts and a greater total high-value: low-value meat ratio. Whilst slaughtering younger male eland could provide additional economic advantages, this should be considered being against changing marketing trends.

The study of "muscle eye" in bulls of Ukrainian black-spotted dairy-meat breed as a factor in improving the properties of meat products

The impact of age, live weight, and growth rate of the bulls of Ukrainian breeds on the area of “muscle eye” (cross-section of m. longissimus dorsi when the carcass is divided into front and rear between the 12th and 13th ribs) was studied. The correlation between the size of the “muscle eye” and the carcass's characteristics and the meat's qualitative indicators was also determined. The research was conducted on the bulls of Ukrainian black-and-white dairy (UBWDB) and Ukrainian meat (UMB) breeds. Living animals “muscle eye” area was determined with the ultrasonic analyser Emperor 860, after slaughter. It was found that UMB bulls have the area of “muscle eye” twice as big as their UBWDB peers. The “muscle eye” area increases when growing the cattle to 400 – 450 kg. In the future, it will be practically independent of the age and weight of the animals and remains stable. An increase in the average daily gains within the breed leads to an increase in the “muscle eye” area. The area of “muscle eye” has a weak negative connection (r = -0.193) with meat tenderness and dry matter content (r = -0.345) and a positive one with slaughter weight (r = 0.614) and slaughter yield (r = 0.653). Of the three parameters (length, depth, and area) of “muscle eye”, the greatest impact on the technological properties of meat has depth. Its increase has a negative connection with meat tenderness (r = -0.810) and moisture (r = -0.474), but it has a positive impact on the moisture retention capacity (r = 0.338) and weight of weighed portion after heat treatment. The obtained results can be used to clarify the optimal growing parameters of the bulls of Ukrainian black-and-white dairy and meat breeds for meat and determine the optimal age and live weight of the cattle slaughter.

Characterization of Three Different Mediterranean Beef Fattening Systems: Performance, Behavior, and Carcass and Meat Quality

Simple Summary

Beef fattening systems present a large diversity according to the effect of the type (genetics and gender) of animals fattened, the nutrition programs, the housing conditions, and days on feed, resulting in different carcass traits and meat qualities. New beef fattening systems are arising in Mediterranean countries raising crossbred Angus bulls seeking new marketing opportunities. One of the strengths of the present study is that all animals of the three compared different production systems, two conventional (crossbred heifers, Holstein bulls) and one innovative (crossbred Angus bulls), were raised following their own commercial program (days on feed, nutrition) under the same housing, care, and weather conditions. Furthermore, the carcass and meat quality parameters were analyzed by using a common methodology. With this experimental design, potential factors like the housing conditions or the methodology used to analyze carcass and meat quality (aging time, cooling temperatures, lab equipment) did not interfere in data interpretation. The results indicated that fattening crossbred Angus bulls is suitable in an intensive fattening program but technical data (performance, meat quality or consumer preferences) do not support it as a better alternative to the current Holstein bull production.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize three different commercial dairy beef fattening systems for intensive Mediterranean fattening programs differing in gender, breed, nutrition, and days of feed in order to describe their performance, behavior, and carcass and meat quality when they were raised simultaneously under the same housing and care conditions. Treatments were three different production systems: (1) crossbred Holstein x beef breeds such as Charolais or Limousine heifers, slaughtered at 10 months of age (CBH10, n = 41); (2) Holstein bulls, slaughtered at 11 months of age (HB11, n = 42); and (3) crossbred Holstein x Angus bulls, slaughtered at 12 months of age (CAB12, n = 37). According to our results, moving from a production system based on Holstein bulls to the crossbred Angus production system has no technical support as no large production and meat quality improvements were observed, and only marketing strategies for meat differentiation and consumer trends could favor this decision.

Preferences and acceptance of Czech and Spanish consumers regarding beef with varying intramuscular fat content

Understanding the factors affecting meat eating quality and consumer demand is essential for estimating future trends in meat consumption. The objective of the study was therefore to compare Czech and Spanish consumer attitudes and preferences in relation to beef intramuscular fat content. Three hundred and one consumers participated in the study; they completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and evaluated grilled beef samples of three varying intramuscular fat contents (low, medium, high). The low-fat meat had an average intramuscular fat content of 1.3%, medium had 3.1% and high-fat had 5.2%. Sensory assessment scores tended to show a positive linear relationship with beef intramuscular fat content. While Czech assessors only noted differences in tenderness and overall acceptance between the beef samples, Spanish assessors were able to detect significant differences in all the descriptors evaluated. Age and gender affected the assessment scores of beef with different intramuscular fat contents.

Manifestation of living and post-slaughter traits of productivity in inbred and outbred bull calves of Ukrainian meat cattle breed

Selection in meat cattle herds requires caution due to the manifestation of inbred depression in traits that affect the economics of this livestock industry. This paper analyses the productivity of inbred and outbred bull calves of the Ukrainian meat cattle breed and justifies methods of pair selection in purebred herds with natural pairing. In bull calves, the growth of animals and traits of their meat productivity after slaughter were considered. Inbreeding was determined based on their pedigree. Inbred animals tended to have a growth rate of 10.2% from birth to 8 months of age. Afterwards, their average daily gain in live weight decreases sharply compared to outbred peers, who grow faster over a more extended period. From 8 to 18 months of age, it is probably (p >0.95) higher by 27.3% compared to inbred animals. Inbred bull calves have higher variability (Cv,%) in average daily gains. This indicates different adaptations to the environment during the suckling period and after weaning. Outbred animals tend to gain 2.3% of body weight at 12 months, 4.7 at 15 months, and 10.3% at 18 months. Its variability with age decreases by 7.4 points in inbred bull calves and 0.4 points in outbred ones, from 8 to 18 months. The inbred animals spent 29.5% more feed per kg of gain (p >0.95) than the outbred ones. Inbred bull calves vs outbred ones at 15 and 18 months of age tend to improve the expression of meat forms by 1.3 and 2.7%. They are relatively shorter and have a more rounded barrel. As a result, they have a shorter period of rapid growth. With the small size of the Ukrainian meat cattle population, one of the most important problems is reducing genetic variation in beef productivity traits and manifesting inbred depression in them. In purebred commercial herds, the mating of close animals should be avoided. To do this, an "order" for bulls should be made, and pairs should be selected without using inbreeding at different grades. Thus, outbred bull calves will reach live weight more quickly, spending less feed per growth unit, and have better basic slaughter traits.

Muscle Fatty Acids, Meat Flavor Compounds and Sensory Characteristics of Xiangxi Yellow Cattle in Comparison to Aberdeen Angus

The objective of this study was to investigate meat quality of Xiangxi yellow cattle of different ages in comparison to Aberdeen Angus. At the ages of 6, 18, and 30 months, 10 female animals for both Xiangxi yellow cattle and Aberdeen Angus cattle were randomly selected and slaughtered. The proximate composition analysis, fatty acid profiles and flavor compounds were measured on the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle samples. One boneless loin chop was dissected and used for sensory evaluation by a 10-persoon trained taste panel. The data obtained showed that Xiangxi yellow cattle deposited similarly high level of intramuscular fat as Angus at the age of 18 month and the polyunsaturated fatty acid in muscle along with the PUFA/SFA ratio reached the highest levels at this age. Inosine 5′-monophosphate (IMP) was the predominant umami compound in beef, which concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at month 18, but not different between Angus and Xiangxi yellow cattle. Multiple volatile flavor compounds were higher (p < 0.05) in concentrations in meat from Xiangxi yellow cattle at ages of 18 and 30 months when compared to Angus. Sensory analysis revealed that Xiangxi yellow cattle (18 and 30 months) and Angus (30 months) were superior in meat overall eating quality to Xiangxi yellow cattle (6 months) and Angus (6 and 18 months). This study showed that Xiangxi yellow cattle are a fine cattle breed with equal or even better meat quality attributes when compared to Angus. It is proper to slaughter Xiangxi yellow cattle at the age of 18 months for high quality beef production.

Impact of Kosher Slaughter Methods of Heifers and Young Bulls on Physical and Chemical Properties of Their Meat

This work aimed to comprehensively analyze the factors (slaughter method, gender, and muscle type) that determine the kosher status of beef and assess their influence on the selected quality characteristics of raw meat. The muscles were obtained from 40 carcasses of heifers and 40 carcasses of young bulls. In the first stage of the experiment, pH values were measured. The water, protein, fat, minerals, and collagen contents were determined. Then, the shear force, forced drip, and thermal drip were measured. The experimental results indicated that all the investigated parameters have an impact on the final quality of beef. Statistically significantly lower pH1 values were noticed in the longissimus thoracic muscle of young bulls obtained through kosher slaughter methods. However, 24 and 48 h after slaughter, higher pH values were observed in the meat of young bulls obtained by the kosher slaughter method, where the meat samples were subjected to kosher treatment. The koshering process (salting and washing) resulted in a significant reduction in both forced and thermal drip values of the meat sample, but this decrease was not affected by gender.

Economic impact of digital dermatitis, foot rot, and bovine respiratory disease in feedlot cattle

Digital dermatitis (DD) has emerged in North American feedlots, although production and economic impacts are not fully understood. Objectives of this study were to: (1) estimate the economic impact of a single case of DD, foot rot (FR), and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in feedlot cattle and (2) determine its impact on average daily gain (ADG). Feedlot cattle health and production records were available from two feedlots for a 3-yr interval. The dataset consisted of 77,115 animal records, with 19.3% (14,900) diagnosed with a disease. Diseased animals were categorized into five groups: DD, FR, BRD, other diseases (OT), and two or more diseases (TM), with a treatment cumulative incidence of 6.0%, 59.1%, 10.7%, 12.7%, and 11.5%, respectively. FR was the disease with the highest cumulative incidence in both heifers and steers (58.8% and 59.6%, respectively). Of all fall-placed cattle diagnosed with any disease, 48.1% of the cases were FR. DD affected the partial budget in five out of the eight groups of cattle, with the highest impact of DD seen in grass yearling heifers and grass yearling steers: $-98 and $-96 CAD, respectively, relative to their healthier counterparts. Healthy cattle had a significantly higher ADG when compared with DD cattle in five of the eight categories, ranging from 0.11 kg/d in winter-placed heifers to 0.17 kg/d in fall-placed steers. In the economic analysis, it was concluded that on an individual animal basis, BRD was the most impactful of all analyzed diseases, whereas DD was second, marking the importance of controlling and mitigating this foot condition. Identifying differential effects of diseases on a partial budget analysis and ADG of the types of cattle stratified by sex enables feedlot producers to focus control and mitigation strategies on specific groups.

Invited review: Beef-on-dairy-The generation of crossbred beef × dairy cattle

Because a growing proportion of the beef output in many countries originates from dairy herds, the most critical decisions about the genetic merit of most carcasses harvested are being made by dairy producers. Interest in the generation of more valuable calves from dairy females is intensifying, and the most likely vehicle is the use of appropriately selected beef bulls for mating to the dairy females. This is especially true given the growing potential to undertake more beef × dairy matings as herd metrics improve (e.g., reproductive performance) and technological advances are more widely adopted (e.g., sexed semen). Clear breed differences (among beef breeds but also compared with dairy breeds) exist for a whole plethora of performance traits, but considerable within-breed variability has also been demonstrated. Although such variability has implications for the choice of bull to mate to dairy females, the fact that dairy females themselves exhibit such genetic variability implies that "one size fits all" may not be appropriate for bull selection. Although differences in a whole series of key performance indicators have been documented between beef and beef-on-dairy animals, of particular note is the reported lower environmental hoofprint associated with beef-on-dairy production systems if the environmental overhead of the mature cow is attributed to the milk she eventually produces. Despite the known contribution of beef (i.e., both surplus calves and cull cows) to the overall gross output of most dairy herds globally, and the fact that each dairy female contributes half her genetic merit to her progeny, proxies for meat yield (i.e., veal or beef) are not directly considered in the vast majority of dairy cow breeding objectives. Breeding objectives to identify beef bulls suitable for dairy production systems are now being developed and validated, demonstrating the financial benefit of using such breeding objectives over and above a focus on dairy bulls or easy-calving, short-gestation beef bulls. When this approach is complemented by management-based decision-support tools, considerable potential exists to improve the profitability and sustainability of modern dairy production systems by exploiting beef-on-dairy breeding strategies using the most appropriate beef bulls.

The influence of muscle, ageing and thermal treatment method on the quality of cooked beef

The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of muscle, thermal treatment, and ageing on the beef quality. The longissimus lumborum (LL) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles were taken from Holstein–Friesian young bull carcasses then subjected to steam-cooking and sous-vide after 9 and 14-d wet ageing. It was shown that characteristics of cooked beef were the most significantly affected by thermal treatment method. Using sous-vide provided beef with lower shear force and cooking loss values, darker, and more red colour and more beneficial sensory quality. LL and SM muscles showed a similar quality when subjected to the same thermal treatment method after the same ageing time. It is possible to obtain juicy and tender beef from Holstein–Friesian bulls after 9-d ageing and sous-vide treatment.

A Non-Synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in FASN Gene Alters FASN Enzyme Activity in Subcutaneous and Intramuscular Adipose Tissue in Holstein Friesian Steers

The FASN enzyme plays a key role in fatty acids synthesis as the main long-chain fatty acid synthesizer. A non-synonymous SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) (g.17925A>G) located in the thioesterase domain of this enzyme and an effect in fat deposition has been observed, but has not been evaluated in this breed and, moreover, the reason whereby this occurs remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of this SNP on the activity of FASN enzyme in subcutaneous and intramuscular adipose tissue from Holstein Friesian steers. To achieve this, 196 animals were sampled in a local abattoir, genotyped for the FASN g.17924A>G SNP and characterized for fatty acid profile. Then a sub-sample of 20 animals per genotype were selected to extract the total protein from subcutaneous and intramuscular adipose tissue to estimate the FASN enzyme activity. The FASN activity for each genotyped animal was assessed indirectly by measuring the decrease in the absorbance of NADPH at 340 nm by spectrophotometry in a 24 well plate in the presence of Acetyl-CoA, Malonyl-CoA, and NADPH. To assess the impact of SNP induced amino acid changes in FASN protein structure, in-silico simulations were performed. Our results indicated that FASN g.17924A>G SNP induces a change in the enzyme activity in subcutaneous adipose tissue, which is higher when the AA genotype is present and lower in the presence of the AG genotype. The in-silico analysis of the amino acid substitution shows that there was a structural change in the dimeric form of the protein between genotypes. Moreover, the global energy between subunits is lower and more favorable when the AA genotype is present and higher and less favorable for the AG genotype. It was also found that the fatty acid profile of subcutaneous adipose tissue was affected when the AG genotype was present, decreasing the C16:0 fatty acid levels and increasing the C18:0 fatty acid levels. The FASN g.17924A>G SNP alters the FASN enzyme structure and activity, leading to a variation in the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous adipose tissue in Holstein Friesian steers. Implications: This SNP could be considered as a tool to improve the fat deposition or marbling and the fatty acid profile in cattle.

Tissue-specific fatty acid composition, cellularity, and gene expression in diverse cattle breeds

The nutritional quality of beef relates to the fatty acid (FA) composition of bovine adipose tissue. Those molecular mechanisms that induce the differing amounts and composition of fat in cattle breeds according to age at maturity and purpose of production remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the composition of total FAs, adipocyte size, and expression of some key genes involved in several adipogenesis and lipogenesis pathways measured in distinct adipose tissue depots from bulls of the genetically diverse cattle breeds Aberdeen Angus (n = 9), Gascon (n = 10), Holstein (n = 9), and Fleckvieh (n = 10). The animals were finished under identical housing and feeding conditions until slaughter at a similar age of 17 months. After slaughter, cod adipose tissue (CAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and M. longissimus lumborum (MLL) samples were collected. The saturated FA proportions were higher (P < .01) in CAT than in SAT across all breeds, whereas monounsaturated FA proportions were consistently higher (P < .001) in SAT compared to CAT and MLL. Aberdeen Angus bulls were distinguished from the other breeds in the proportions of mostly de novo synthesized C14:0, C16:0, C14:1n-5, C16:1n-7, and conjugated linoleic acid (P < .05). Adipocyte size decreased in the order CAT > SAT > MLL, and the largest adipocytes were observed in CAT of Holstein bulls (P < .05). Gene expression differences were more pronounced between adipose tissue depots than between breeds. The expression levels of ACACA, FASN, and SCD1 genes were related to tissue-specific, and to a lesser extent also breed-specific, differences in FA composition.

Environmental Factors and Genetic Parameters of Beef Traits in Fleckvieh Cattle Using Field and Station Testing

Simple Summary

Meat production plays an important role in the efficiency of rearing dual-purpose breeds of cattle in Europe. It is generally known and accepted that most of the beef produced in the EU is produced from dairy herds. This fact provided the motivation for analyzing the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the indicators of meat production from Fleckvieh (known also as dairy Simmental) cattle in the Czech Republic and the interrelationships between these factors. The analysis included evaluating the statistical relationship between the degree of fatness, the heritability and genetic correlation with other traits and also the relationship with exterior muscularity. Together with this analysis, the normal indicators, which are usually evaluated in the population, were also analyzed. The results of our study indicate that meat yield traits are positively related to the live weight of the animal. These findings create possibilities for application in breeding strategies of dual-purpose cattle.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to analyze the genetic and environmental factors of selected meat yield indicators in Fleckvieh cattle in the Czech Republic, through the application of station (S) and field (F) testing methods. Data collected from fattened bulls were analyzed for F (n = 9378) and for S (n = 6346). In the F method and the S method, the values of the main meat yield indicators were as follows: carcass weight 402.91 kg (F), 339.37 kg (S); carcass daily gain 626.05 g/day (F), 609.74 g/day (S); SEUROP carcass classification 2.73 (F), 2.19 (S). Environmental factors were found to have a significant impact on the selected meat yield indicators; their heritability ranged from 0.14 (SEUROP classification) to 0.33 (dressing percentage). The genetic trend was significantly positive only in relation to those meat yield traits, which had a positive link to the size or weight of the animal. The genetic correlation between observations obtained in the S and F methods of testing was very high in relation to the carcass daily gain (0.8351) and carcass weight (0.8244), while slightly lower correlations were calculated for the SEUROP classification. A genetic evaluation of the degree of fatness is not routinely performed in Fleckvieh populations, and the newly established heritability for this trait ranges between 0.17–0.20. The genetic correlation between beef yield indicators and the exterior trait of muscularity was also established, and shows a strong link to the net daily gain, the SEUROP classification and body weight (0.79–0.97). The aim of the study was to evaluate the genetic and environmental effects on meat yield and also estimate genetic parameters for new traits. We can also state, based on the results, that a strong positive genetic trend is confirmed, especially in traits related to the size or weight of animals. This result can be used in breeding programs of dual-purpose cattle, where we can genetically improve the meat and milk yield through the body size.

The Effect of Barley and Lysine Supplementation on the longissimus lumborum Meat Quality of Pasture-Raised Fallow Deer (Dama dama)

The chemical characteristics (proximate composition, amino acids, and fatty acids) and sensory quality of the longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle of 45 farmed male fallow deer were investigated. The animals were divided into three separate groups (n = 15 per treatment): pasture-fed (P), pasture-fed and supplemented with barley (B), and pasture-fed and supplemented with barley and lysine (BL). Differences were observed in LL moisture and the intramuscular fat contents, the latter being almost two-fold greater in the meat of B and BL groups compared to P. The concentrations of histidine, leucine, alanine, glutamic acid and glycine in the raw meat were higher in the BL group compared to the P group. Higher contents of n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and consequently lower n–3 ratios, were found in the P group, compared to the BL group. The grilled meat samples from the P group scored higher than the other groups for grassy flavour, and lower for liver flavour.

Influence of Farm Management for Calves on Growth Performance and Meat Quality Traits Duration Fattening of Simmental Bulls and Heifers

Simple Summary

Cattle have been selected for their adaptation to a specific environment and productive system, in which they show, in theory, their best economical results. With appropriate nutrition, the calf’s performance enhances during early life and improve the production limit providing distinctive opportunities to optimize feeding strategies and increase the profitability of beef production. There is considerable variation in fattening protocols as well as in farm conditions. Meat quality parameters and carcass traits are the main objectives of most research carried out in the beef production area. Optimizing meat quality parameters and carcass traits are important for farmer profits and consumer satisfaction. According to that, at the phenotypic level, growth performance and traits could be observed. Rearing practices are known to have an impact on cattle carcasses and meat characteristics. The rearing practices applied after calving have an influence on the animal’s performance at the growth period and can involve different animal properties at the beginning of the fattening period.

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of farm management during rearing practices in the first months of a calf’s life on growth performance and meat quality traits during the fattening period. A total of 48 Simmental calves were divided into two groups at a commercial cattle feedlot. In the first group were calves from the same farm and herd (n = 12 male and n = 12 female). The second group included calves from several different herds and farms (n = 12 male and n= 12 female). Calves were transferred to a feedlot and fed with a commercial feedlot ration at three to four months of age. The aim was to determine if identical fattening conditions at feedlot can reduce initial calf rearing differences between cattle during the fattening period. Bulls grew faster than heifers reaching higher total gain and showed significantly higher slaughter weight than heifers. Meat samples of heifers from the same herd had the highest intramuscular fat content and reddest color with significant differences among cattle groups. The most abundant fatty acid was oleic acid (C18:1), followed by palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), linoleic (C18:2), and myristic acid (C14:0). Meat samples of heifers from different herds were darkest with highest content of iron (Fe) with significant differences among cattle groups.

Influence of ageing on longissimus lumborum quality from Holstein-Friesian young bulls fed different diets

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ageing (9 and 14 days) on beef obtained from Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls (n = 24) fed different dietary treatments containing the addition of herbal preparations (treatments: control, one and two herbal preparations). Between the 9th and 14th day of ageing, moisture and expressible water contents, Warner–Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF) and intensity of untypical taste significantly decreased, whereas redness, yellowness, chroma, intensity of meat aroma and tenderness increased. Interactions between ageing and dietary treatment on pH, expressible water, cooking loss and WBSF were noted. Using two herbal preparations in a dietary treatment enabled to obtain 9-days aged beef with similar tenderness as compared with 14-days aged beef from the control treatment. Therefore, it is possible to decrease the ageing time of beef by using a well-designed dietary treatment.