Use of Diverse Cattle Breeds to Understand Marbling Development and Growth for the Production of High-quality Beef
Author: Jerad Robert Jaborek
Publisher:
Published: 2019
Total Pages: 213
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe first study investigates implementing a crossbreeding strategy on Jersey dairy farms, where a terminal beef sire would be mated to a proportion of the herd to increase the value of the male offspring compared with purebred Jersey steers. In general, crossbred Jersey cattle, sired by Angus, SimAngus, and Red Wagyu bulls, had a greater ADG and lesser G:F compared with purebred Jersey steers. As a result of the lesser ADG of purebred Jersey steers, they required the greatest amount of time on feed. Crossbred Jersey cattle achieved greater final body weights with fewer days on feed. Purebred Jersey cattle had a lesser backfat thickness, but deposited a greater percentage of kidney fat compared with crossbred Jersey steers. Crossbred Jersey cattle had a greater marbling score and USDA quality grade compared with purebred Jersey steers. The USDA YG equation did a poor job of predicting carcass cutability of all Jersey influenced cattle in this study. Overall, crossbred Jersey cattle had a greater boxed beef price and boxed beef value compared with purebred Jersey steers. Sire selection criteria for Jersey crossbreeding programs should focus on retail yield and should consider the use of growth enhancing technologies to increase muscle deposition.