Abstract
The effect of gender (entire males vs females) on growth performance, carcass traits and meat and fat quality of Avileña-Negra Ibérica calves, fattened under free range conditions and supplemented with concentrate, were investigated. The average daily gain, leg width and thorax depth were higher in males than in females. Carcass conformation score, fore-quarter weight and percentage in carcass were higher in males than in females, whereas dressing percentege, loins and flank percentages in carcass and carcass fatness degree were higher in females than in males. Instrumental colour variables of muscle were not affected by gender at days 1, 3, 7 and 9 of refrigerated storage. In muscle, the L*, a*, b*, chroma, oxymyoglobine and oxymyoglobine/metmyoglobine ratio values observed 9 days after slaughter were lower than those at days 1 and 3 after slaughter. Intramuscular fat percentage of Longissimus thoracis muscle was higher in females than in males. Gender had no effect on α-tocopherol content in intramuscular fat (IMF) from Longissimus thoracis muscle. The omental and IMF of females had lower C18:2 n-6, Σ n-6 and Σ PUFA proportions than those from the males. In IMF C16:1, C18:1 n-9 and Σ MUFA proportions were greater in females than in males. The IMF percentage in Longissimus thoracis affected significantly to its fatty acid composition.
Highlights
The Avileña-Negra Ibérica cattle rustic breed (Bos taurus) is traditionally reared under extensive conditions in the Spanish wooded rangeland located in the middle and western region of Spain
Gender had no effect on α-tocopherol content in intramuscular fat (IMF) from Longissimus thoracis muscle
After weaning calves are generally fattened in confinement and fed with cereal, straw and concentrates until they reach around 13-14 months of age with approximately 500 kg of live weight (550 kg the entire males and 450 kg the females)
Summary
The Avileña-Negra Ibérica cattle rustic breed (Bos taurus) is traditionally reared under extensive conditions in the Spanish wooded rangeland (dehesa) located in the middle and western region of Spain. The most frequent product is the grazing calf weaned at approximately six months old and live weight around 200-230 kg (Daza, 1999). After weaning calves are generally fattened in confinement and fed with cereal, straw and concentrates until they reach around 13-14 months of age with approximately 500 kg of live weight (550 kg the entire males and 450 kg the females). The production of fattened calves in grazing to reduce the production cost is a recent practice. This rearing model is very estimated by the Spanish consumers that relate positively the production system based in grazing with the organoleptic and sanitary quality of the cattle meat
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