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Characterization of indigenous African cattle breeds in relation to carcass characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

P.E. Strydom ,
R.T. Naudé ,
M.F. Smith ,
M.M. Scholtz  and
J.B. van Wyk
P.E. Strydom
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition and Animal Products Institute, ARC, Private Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa
R.T. Naudé
Affiliation:
ARC-Head Office, PO Box 8783, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
M.F. Smith
Affiliation:
ARC-Head Office, PO Box 8783, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
M.M. Scholtz
Affiliation:
Animal Improvement Institute, ARC, Private Bag x2, Irene, 0062, South Africa
J.B. van Wyk
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of the Orange Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
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Abstract

Carcass traits of two indigenous African (Sanga) breeds (Afrikaner and Nguni), one indigenous African composite breed (Bonsmara), one foreign composite breed (Santa Gertrudis) and two continental European breeds (Brown Swiss and Pinzgauer) were compared. Treatment means were adjusted to the mean overall subcutaneous fat proportion (47 g/kg). Despite differences in maturity type, only the Afrikaner dressed out significantly (P < 0·05) lower than the foreign breeds. Both Sanga breeds and the Bonsmara had significantly higher muscle yields than the Santa Gertrudis and Pinzgauer, mainly due to the high intermuscular fat of the latter two breeds. When muscle yield was expressed per unit of bone, the Afrikaner and Bonsmara compared favourably with the larger breeds, due to their low bone and intermuscular fat yield, while the Nguni had a relatively high bone yield. The Santa Gertrudis had the lowest muscle yield due to its high bone and intermuscular fat yields, especially when compared with the smaller Bonsmara composite. Both Sanga breeds had significantly higher (P < 0·05) proportions of total weight, meat and bone (Afrikaner P > 0·05) in the high-priced cuts compared with the other breeds at the same subcutaneous fat level. Despite the statistical significance, differences were small in magnitude and probably of little commercial value. At the same time mean subcutaneous fat proportion, tissue yield and distribution patterns expected of late maturing breeds were observed for smaller indigenous breeds, suggesting that it was specific breed effects rather than maturity type effects, which were evident.

Keywords

Africacarcass qualitycattle breeds
Type
Growth, development and meat science
Information
Animal Science , Volume 70 , Issue 2 , April 2000 , pp. 241 - 252
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2000

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