Dressing percentages of Brahman and Africander cross and of British breed steers

Abstract

Dressing percentages of Brahman cross steers have been compared on two occasions with Africander cross and British breed steers of approximately 1000 lb live weight. Brahman cross steers dressed 2 to 4 per cent higher than Africander cross and British breed steers.Differences in dressing percentage result from differences in weights of digestive tracts with contents, the Brahman cross steers having lighter digestive tracts with contents than the other steers of the same live weight. Possible implications arising from a lighter digestive tract are discussed.