Body, carcass, and steak dimensions of straightbred Holstein calves and Angus-sired calves from Holstein, Jersey, and crossbred beef dams

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2023-01, Vol.101
• Main Authors: Fuerniss, Luke K, Young, James Daniel, Hall, Jerica R, Wesley, Kaitlyn R, Bowman, Sydney M, Felizari, Luana D, Woerner, Dale R, Rathmann, Ryan J, Johnson, Bradley J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Area; Beef; Biopsy; Body Composition - genetics; Body length; Body measurements; Body Weight - genetics; Calves; Carcasses; Cattle; Cattle - genetics; Dairies; Female; Genetics; Height; Hip; Meat; Muscle Biology; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscles; Phenotypes; Strip; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad358

Abstract Beef genetics are used with increasing frequency on commercial dairies. Although use of beef genetics improves calf value, variability has been reported in beef × dairy calf phenotype for traits related to muscularity and carcass composition. The objective of this study was to characterize morphometric and compositional differences between beef, beef × dairy, and dairy-fed cattle. Tested treatment groups included Angus-sired straightbred beef steers and heifers (A × B; n = 45), Angus × Holstein crossbreds (A × H; n = 15), Angus × Jersey crossbreds (A × J; n = 16), and straightbred Holsteins (H, n = 16). Cattle were started on trial at mean BW of 302 ± 29.9 kg and then fed at 196 ± 3.4 d. Morphometric measures were recorded every 28 d during the finishing period, ultrasound measures were recorded every 56 d, and morphometric carcass measures were recorded upon slaughter. Muscle biopsies were collected from the longissimus thoracis of a subset of steers (n = 43) every 56 d. Strip loins were collected from carcasses (n = 78) for further evaluation. Frame size measured as hip height, hip width, and body length was greatest for H cattle (P