Slaughter qualities and by-product yield in Limousin bull calves of different genotypes

Abstract

The study aimed to provide a comparative analysis of post- slaughter performance and by-product yield obtained from purebred Limousin bull calves of different genotypes. The purposes of the study were to fatten bull calves, offspring of mothers of different origin, as well as carcasses and by-products obtained as a result of their control slaughter. The bull calves were raised according to the technology of beef cattle breeding with elements of resource saving. The control slaughter of the bull calves was carried out when they reached the required meat condition at the age of 18 months. In the course of the research, it was established that the bull calves obtained from mothers of French selection significantly exceeded (p˂0.01) the peers obtained from mothers of Australian origin in live pre- slaughter weight of 34.6 kg (6.5%), in carcass weight of 30.8 kg (9.8%); in slaughter weight of 30,6 kg (9.4%). Bulls derived from local selection mothers had significantly (p˂0.05) higher slaughter weight by 16.3 kg (4.4%) compared to peers whose mothers were of Australian origin. Significant differences between groups in weight and yield of byproducts were not revealed; however, there was a tendency to increase the weight of organs in the groups of animals with high preslaughter live weight (bull calves of the first and third experimental groups). Based on the obtained data, it can be assumed that breeding of the ancestors of the studied animals for a long period of time under conditions of different breeding, housing and feeding technologies influences the meat qualities of carcasses obtained by their offspring, Limousin bull calves, which are descendants of mothers of different origin.