Breed direct, maternal and heterosis effects due to Angus, Caracu, Hereford and Nelore on carcass and meat quality traits of cull cows

ABSTRACT Meat is an end-of-life by-product from cows that fail to reproduce. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine breed additive and heterosis effects on carcass traits and characteristics of the meat from beef cows raised in southern Brazil. Angus (A), Hereford (H), Nelore (N), A × H (AH), H × A (HA), A × N (AN), N × A (NA) and Caracu (C) × A (CA) cows were slaughtered when they did not become pregnant for a second season. Slaughter weight (SW), hot carcass weight (CW), carcass yield (CY), ribeye area (REA), pH value, water holding capacity (WHC), tenderness (MT), moisture (MM), ether extract (EE), carcass fat score (CFS), marbling score (MS), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and L*, a* and b* measures of color of the fat and meat color were evaluated. Taurine x taurine heterosis effects increased SW and to a lesser degree CW, and improved MT. Taurine x indicine heterosis increased REA, a* and b*, and decreased L* and EE. Direct breed additive effects attributable to A increased SW but decreased CY and thus had no detectable effect on CW. Direct breed additive effects of C decreased CFS, SFT, CY and MM. Finally, direct breed additive effects of H and C similarly decreased CFS and SFT. Maternal breed additive effects were generally unremarkable except for slight effects of H reducing a* and b*. Thus, SW and MT may be increased by crossbreeding with taurine breeds, while CY and REA can be increased by using zebu-influenced cattle. The desirable carcass composition of CA cows and their MT and color comparable to taurine crossbred cows make this crossbred cow a viable alternative for producers in southern Brazil.