Summary
This 2006 study investigates how breed selection and slaughter age interact to influence carcass yield and meat quality in adult beef steers. Published in Livestock Science, the work appears to compare different cattle breeds at varying maturity stages, measuring standard commercial carcass and meat quality traits. The findings may inform breed-specific management strategies for beef production, though the specific magnitude of breed and age effects cannot be determined from the title alone.
Regional applicability
Spain is a significant beef-producing nation with comparable pasture and grazing systems to parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in extensive cattle systems. The breeds and production contexts studied may have some transferability to UK beef operations, especially for suckler herds and terminal sire strategies, though UK genetics and finishing systems differ; direct application would require review of the specific breed comparisons made.
Key measures
Carcass weight, dressing percentage, meat quality parameters (colour, tenderness, composition) stratified by breed and age category
Outcomes reported
The study examined how breed type and age at slaughter influenced carcass characteristics and meat quality attributes in adult steers (castrated males). Measures likely included carcass weight, dressing percentage, meat colour, tenderness, and other quality parameters across different breed groups and age categories.
Topic tags
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