Relative Tissue Growth Patterns and Carcass Composition in Beef Cattle

Abstract

The main objective of the beef breed evaluation programme carried out at Grange Beef Research Centre was to compare the productive characteristics of different beef breed crosses out of Holstein-Friesian cows. In the course of this work much additional information was acquired, particularly on growth patterns of body organs and tissues, and how these affect kill-out proportion and carcass composition. The data were also used to examine relationships between carcass classification variables and carcass composition. Cattle used for beef production in Ireland can be classified into three main biological types: (i) early maturing, (ii) dairy, and (iii) late maturing. Results from an experiment that compared Friesians (dairy), Hereford × Friesians (early maturing) and Charolais × Friesians (late maturing) are used to represent these biological types. The material is organized under the following headings: (i) non carcass parts and kill-out proportion, (ii) carcass composition, (iii) carcass tissue distribution, (iv) muscle chemical composition, (v) gender, (vi) dairy breeds, and (vii) carcass classification and composition.