Evaluation of meat productivity of Limousin breed cattle in biogeochemical conditions of Voronezh region

Abstract

The main and economically priority vector of development of agroindustrial complex of the Russian Federation in the current realities is sustainable production of agricultural products in volumes that not only meet the needs of the population, but also create a certain reserve, able to offset the negative effects of forced production downturns and crises. Beef is a high-quality source of protein in human nutrition. In the conditions of protein diet deficiency the question of increasing the volumes of animal production and, in particular, beef as one of the main traditional components of human diet acquires the special urgency. In this connection, we have set the task to study the indicators of beef productivity of Limousin cattle under the conditions of stabling system in a farm located in the biogeochemical conditions of Voronezh region of the Russian Federation. The researches made show that the meat productivity of cattle of Limousin breed differs significantly in pre-slaughter weight of bulls and heifers amounted 621.33 kg and 449.67 kg, and the slaughter weight of steers and heifers was 385.37 kg and 272.30 kg. The slaughter yield of steers was quite high and was 61.98±1.06%, while that of heifers was slightly lower and was 59.90±0.58%. The most interesting is the comparative evaluation of meat quality in interbreed and age aspects according to its dry matter and water content, protein and fat content, as well as other indicators characterizing the product quality, so the ratio between protein and fat in meat, the water-holding capacity of meat proteins were studied to determine the manufacturability and meat quality. Also, indicators characterizing the chemical composition of the longest muscle of the back were determined.