use of double-muscled cattle breeds in terminal crosses: meat quality

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of meat from 84 calves born from British (50% Hereford and 50% Red Angus) and Continental (50% Simmental and 50% Maine Anjou) dams inseminated with semen from normal (Charolais) or double-muscled (Piedmontese, Belgian Blue) sires. Lean composition of Belgian Blue and Piedmontese sired cattle had less intramuscular fat and more protein than Charolais sired cattle (P < 0.01 to 0.05). Breed of sire, origin of dam or calf sex had no effect on longissimus ultimate pH, thawing and cooking losses, shear forces, tenderness and overall flavour. However, meat from male progeny displayed higher drip loss (P < 0.05) and meat colour of male calves born from British dams was slightly more saturated than that of male calves born from Continental dams (P < 0.02). There were no other single effects of parental traits on meat quality. Significant interactions on total and soluble collagen content involving parental traits together with the single sex effect of the progeny (P < 0.05) did not induce textural differences, but meat from male progeny and that from Continental dams crossed with Belgian Blue sires was more juicy (P < 0.05). The use of DM bulls in terminal crosses resulted in increased lean yield and less marbling of the meat of the progeny but did not exert any other important effect on meat quality.