China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (3): 1211-1221.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.03.023

• Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles    

Comparison of Slaughter Performance and Meat Quality Between Holstein and Angus-Holstein F1 Cattle

ANG Song1, LI Hui2, SUN Fang3, WEI Ziheng3, BU Ye3, SUI Xinxin3, LUO Li3, LIU Chundong4, WU Wenbin5, BAO Xiaoping6, XU Shanshan3, HOU Jintao3   

  1. 1. Experimental and Demonstration Center, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China;
    2. Datong Vocational and Technical College of Coal, Datong 037000, China;
    3. Animal Husbandry Science Institution, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China;
    4. Beidahuang Wandashan Dairy Co., Ltd., Harbin 150030, China;
    5. Inner Mongolia Yizhihao Cattle Brand Management Co., Ltd., Tongliao 028200, China;
    6. Dongying AustAsia Modern Dairy Farm Co., Ltd., Dongying 257000, China
  • Received:2024-10-06 Published:2025-02-22

Abstract: 【Objective】 This study aimed to compare the slaughter performance and meat quality of Holstein cattle and their Angus crossbred offspring (Holstein-Angus F1) after linear fattening.【Method】 Six Holstein steers and six Holstein-Angus F1 steers were selected for the experiment.All cattle were born in June 2020.Castration was performed immediately after birth using rubber bands,weaning occurred at 2 months of age,and linear fattening began at 4 months of age.The diet and feeding conditions were the same for both groups.All cattle were slaughtered at 18 months of age.【Result】 Compared to Holstein steers,the Holstein-Angus F1 steers showed significant or extremely significant improvements in pre-slaughter live weight,carcass weight,backfat thickness,and loin muscle area (P<0.05 or P<0.01),with a significant reduction in drip loss rate (P<0.01).The dressing percentage showed an increasing trend (P=0.069).There were extremely significant differences in the yield of high-quality meat cuts between the two groups.Specifically,the proportion of the weight of the chunk roll and rib eye roll in Holstein steers was significantly lower than that in Holstein-Angus F1 steers (P<0.05),resulting in a noticeable decrease in the weight proportion of high-grade meat cuts (P<0.01).In terms of high-quality meat,Holstein steers had significantly higher shoulder meat weight proportion than Holstein-Angus F1 steers (P<0.05).In terms of meat quality,Holstein steers had lower shear force than Holstein-Angus F1 steers (P<0.05).The intramuscular fat content in the chuck tender and striploin of Holstein-Angus F1 steers was lower than that of Holstein steers (P<0.05).After crossbreeding,the content and composition of amino acids and fatty acids in the beef were changed,with varying degrees of change across different cuts.Holstein-Angus F1 steers had higher amino acid content in the outside flat but lower umami amino acids.Fatty acid changes were mainly concentrated in saturated fatty acids C15∶0 and C16∶0,which were significantly higher in Holstein-Angus F1 steers than in Holstein steers (P<0.05).【Conclusion】 Under the same feeding conditions,Holstein-Angus F1 steers exhibited better slaughter performance than Holstein steers when fattened to 18 months of age.However,the intramuscular fat deposition ability of Holstein-Angus F1 steers was lower than that of Holstein steers.

Key words: Holstein cattle; Angus cattle; crossbred; steer; slaughter performance; meat quality

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