Growth Performance and Carcass Evaluation of Jeju Native Cattle and Its Crossbreds Fed for Long Fattening Period

Abstract

This study compared the growth performance and carcass evaluation of Jeju native cattle (JNC) and its crossbreds (CBK = 25 JNC:50 Charolais:25 Brahman and BCBK = 62.5 JNC:25 Charolais:12.5 Brahman). Eight male calves of each JNC, CBK and BCBK were weaned at 4 month of age and were fed for 24 months of age. All animals grazed a pasture between 5 to 10 months of age then they were fed growing ration at the rate of 1.5% of their BW along with ad libitum supply of Italian ryegrass hay between 11 to 16 months of age and thereafter switched to ad libitum feeding of finishing ration and hay between 17 to 24 months of age. Mean body weight (BW) and BW gain were higher in CBK compared with BCBK and JNC at 4, 10, 16 and 24 months of age. Average daily BW gain during 4 to 10 months of age was the highest for CBK followed by BCBK and JNC. However, daily BW gain was higher in BCBK than in CBK and JNC during 11 and 16 months of age. During fattening period (17 to 24 months) average daily BW gain was higher in JNC than in CBK and BCBK. Slaughter weight, hot and cold carcass weight were higher in CBK compared with JNC and BCBK. Weight of bones, boneless meat, ribs, excluded rib meat, retailed cut meat, tender loin, sir loin, strip loin, sticking, top round, bottom round, fore leg, shank, and thin-flank were higher in CBK than in BCBK and JNC. Fat weight in these carcass cuts and kidney fat was similar in JNC and its crossbreds. Logissimus dorsi and its ratio were higher in CBK compared with BCBK and JNC. Percent moisture, crude protein, and ash contents of beef were similar in JNC and its crossbreds. Percent beef fat was higher in JNC and BCBK than in CBK. Cooking loss and water holding capacity of beef was similar in JNC and its crossbreds. Sheer force was lower in BCBK compared with JNC and CBK. Juiciness, tenderness and flavor of beef were higher in BCBK compared with JNC and CBK. In conclusion, CBK has shown higher growth rate and produced heavier carcasses with good degree of fatness compared with JNC and BCBK. However, fattening for longer period could increase the maintenance cost in CBK and BCBK because of their higher BW which they attained during growing period.