Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-03T17:37:12.215Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of body-weight loss on the composition of Brahman cross and Africander cross steers: II. Dissected components of the dressed carcass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. M. Seebeck
R. M. Seebeck
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O., Division of Animal Genetics, Cattle Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 542, Rockliampton, Queensland, 4700
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Comparative slaughter was used to assess the effects of body-weight loss on Brahman cross (BX) and Africander cross (AX) steers of the F3generation with respect to gross dissected carcass composition and the distribution of these components over the dressed carcass. Animals were slaughtered at design body weights of 325, 341, 358, 374 and 390 kg, some while during positive body-weight growth (Group A), and others during weight loss from 390 kg at a rate of approximately 0–5 kg/day (Group B).

Gross composition was similar in the two breeds, irrespective of the body-weight loss treatment. Body-weight loss resulted in muscle and fat approximately reversing the path of development, while bone and fascia and tendon remained approximately constant. No evidence of proportionally early loss of fat and later loss of muscle was found. Of the fat components, kidney and channel fat showed the highest relative loss. The distribution of muscle was different between the breeds, the most statistically significant differences being that AX had heavier muscles around the spinal column and lighter shin muscles, at the same total muscle weight. Bone weight distribution differences also occurred, with AX tending to have lighter leg bones, at the same total bono weight. A breed difference in intermuscular fat distribution meant that the AX animals were earlier developing in the forequarter and later developing in the hind quarter in respect to its intermuscular fat, than the BX animals.

Body-weight loss affected muscle-weight distribution, the most marked effect being that the relative proportion of abdominal muscles fell during body-weight loss. Boneweight distribution was affected to a minor extent, the effects mainly being in the leg bones rather than the axial skeleton. The distribution of neither fascia and tendons nor subcutaneous fat was affected by the body-weight loss treatment, but the distribution of intermuscular fat was affected.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 80 , Issue 3 , June 1973 , pp. 411 - 423
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1973

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Butterfield, K. M. (1963 a). A study of the musculature of the steer carcass. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Queensland.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M. (1963 b). In Symposium on Carcass Composition and Appraisal of Meat Animals (ed. Tribe, D. E.), Section 4, 1–13. Melbourne: C.S.I.R.O.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M. (1963 c). In Symposium on Carcass Composition and Appraisal of Meat Animals(ed. Tribe, D. E.), Section 7, 1–14. Melbourne: C.S.I.R.O.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M. (1965). Practical implications of anatomical research in beef cattle. Proc. N.Z. Soc. Anim. Prod. 25, 152–63.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M. (1966). The effect of nutritional stress and recovery on the body composition of cattle. Pres. vet. Sci. 7, 168–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butterfield, R. M. & May, N. D. S. (1966). Muscles of the Ox. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press.Google Scholar
Hewetson, R. W. (1961). Carcass characteristics of Shorthorns and Herefords and crosses of these breeds with Brahman and Afrikander cattle grown in a tropical environment. Communication to Section L of the 35th Congress of A.N.Z.A.A.S., Brisbane.Google Scholar
Huxley, J. S. (1932). Problems of Relative Growth. London: Methuen.Google Scholar
LindhÉ, B. & Henningsson, T. (1968). Crossbreeding for beef with Swedish Bed and White cattle. II. Growth and feed efficiency under standardized conditions together with detailed carcass evaluation. LanlbrHogsk. Annlr 34, 517–50.Google Scholar
Norman, M. J. T. (1967). The comparative performance of tropical crossbred and local Shorthorn beef cattle on native pasture at Katherine, N.T. Aust. J. exp. Agric. Anim. Husb. 1, 217—24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richmond, R. J. & Berg, R. T. (1971). Muscle growth and distribution in swine as influenced by liveweight, breed, sex and ration. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 51, 41—9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seebeuk, R. M. (1973). The effect of body weight loss on the composition of Brahman cross and Africander cross steers. I. Empty body weight, dressed carcass weight and offal components. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 80, 201–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seebeck, R. M. & Tulloh, N. M. (1968 a). Developmental growth and body weight loss of cattle. II. Dissected components of the commercially dressed and jointed carcass. Aust. J. agric. Res. 19, 477–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seebeck, R. M. & Tulloh, N. M. (1968 b). Developmental growth and body weight loss of cattle. III. Dissected components of the commercially dressed carcass, following anatomical boundaries. Aust. J. agric. Res. 19, 673–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar