Search

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of different initial fattening ages on the fattening performance, carcass features, and meat quality traits of Holstein Friesian bulls. A total of 24 Holstein-Friesian intact males were used in the study. The bulls were allocated to the initial fattening age groups named as Young Group (8-10 months old) (YG), Middle Aged Group (12-14 months old) (MAG) and Older Group (15-17 months old) (OG) and then placed in the feedlot based on three age groups at feedlot entry. The data that has normal distribution were analysed by using the LSMM in GLM, while others were analysed by using the nonparametric Kruskal - Wallis H test. The average daily weight gain of the YG, MAG and OG were 1.09 ± 0.27 kg, 1.01 ± 0.48 kg and 0.95 ± 0.60 kg (p < 0.01), respectively. Additionally, YG was the most effective group in terms of feed efficiency ratio (FER) compared to others. However, carcass measurements and carcass weight had lower values in the YG. Effects of age at feedlot entry had also insignificant effect on the carcass traits. Besides, measurements of the carcass muscularity including area of Musculus longissimus dorsi (MLD), SEUROP carcass conformation scores of the bulls in the MAG, and OG were superior to Holstein Friesian bulls in the YG. Different initial fattening ages had no significant effects on the chemical composition of MLD samples except for percentage of protein value. In conclusion, taking animals into feedlot at early ages resulted in accelerated weight gain, higher marbled meat, and improvement of the FER of Holstein Friesian bulls reared in harsh environmental conditions of the Eastern Turkey. However, the young animals had the lowest carcass weights and carcass measurements along with muscularity parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, deficits in red meat resources in Turkey are caused by the import of red meat from different countries. Anatolian buffaloes used in this research are a species that can contribute to red meat production in Turkey. This study was performed to determine the slaughter and carcass traits of Anatolian buffaloes at different slaughter weights. Twenty weaned male Anatolian buffalo calves of about 5 months old, at an average live weight of 100 kg, were used as the animal specimen in the present study. The calves were fed with 30:70 roughage (alfalfa hay = 18.07% crude protein, 2186.90 kcal kg-1 metabolic energy DM): concentrate feed (cattle fattening feed = 16.40% crude protein, 2696.94 kcal kg-1 metabolic energy DM). The calves were randomly distributed into 4 different slaughter weight (SW) groups of GI (200 kg; n = 5), GII (250 kg; n = 5), GIII (300 kg; n = 5), and GIV (350 kg; n = 5). The results showed that hot and cold carcass ratios (P < 0.01) and carcass chilling loss increased with increasing slaughter weights. Except for head, feet, and kidney weight, the differences in all of the other organ weights of the SW groups were not statistically significant. The differences in all of the investigated carcass measurements of the SW groups were detected to be significant (P < 0.05). Although total carcass conformation index values increased with increasing slaughter weights, only the differences in the carcass compactness values of the SW groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Except for chunk, short loin, sirloin, rump, and flank ratios, the differences in all of the other carcass section ratios of the SW groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slaughter and carcass features of four breeds named Limousin (LI), Charolais (CH), Angus (AN), and Hereford (HE) were examined. Nine calves from each breed were slaughtered at an average age of 18.5 months. The animals were weighed before slaughter, and the slaughter weights as well as some body measurements of the animals were recorded. The dismemberment of the carcasses was performed after a resting period of 24 h at + 4 °C. The slaughter weights were 581.89, 590.72, 577.67, and 610.89 kg, respectively. Chilled carcass weights were 348.26, 346.91, 327.60, and 338.10 kg, respectively, with no significant differences among breeds. Dressing percentages were 59.89, 58.75, 56.71, and 55.33%, and the valuable meat ratios were 27.89, 27.66, 24.45, and 24.32%, respectively. Carcass bone ratios were 13.89, 14.17, 14.64, and 14.61%, respectively. The longissimus muscle areas (LMA) were 97.46, 102.29, 81.05, and 83.93 cm 2 , and the subcutaneous fat thickness was 0.38, 0.43, 1.00, and 1.32 cm, respectively. Significant differences were observed among breeds in terms of these characteristics. Carcass weight was highest in LI, and LI and CH breeds had higher carcass yields than the other two breeds. Although HE had the highest slaughter weight, it showed the lowest carcass yield. Whilst more meat was obtained from LI and CH, the highest fat and bone ratios were determined in HE and AN., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

This study was carried out to determine the carcass traits of geese of different origins reared in Turkey. INRA, Armutlu, Başkuyu and Tatlicak origin geese were used; 6 females and 6 males of each origin were slaughtered at the end of the experiment. Among the origins, the differences were statistically significant for leg weight, head and abdominal fat ratio to the body (P < 0.05), neck weight, feather and gizzard fat ratio to the body (P < 0.01), hot carcass, blood, head, foot, heart, liver, gizzard, cold carcass, wing, breast and back weight, and blood, heart, liver and back ratio to the body were also significant (P < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]