Carcass and meat quality of Friesian steers fed on either pasture or barley

Abstract

Friesian steers were slaughtered as individual animals reached a fasted liveweight of c. 457 kg, after being on either a predominantly cereal diet (12 animals) or a predominantly pasture diet (13 animals) for at least 160 days. Those on the cereal diet grew 31% faster than the animals on pasture so that the latter group was an average of 69 days older. The carcasses of the cereal group were significantly fatter especially with regard to omental fat (+ 54%), intramuscular fat (+ 34% for M. semitendinosus) and dissectable fat from the 9–10–11 rib cut (+ 27%). These differences in composition may have been caused by either differences in growth rate or specific dietary effects. Measurements of tenderness all favoured the cereal group, the largest effect being on cold-shortened M. semitendinosus where the mean shear value was 50% greater for the pasture group. The greater age, lower percentage of intramuscular fat and greater susceptibility to cold-shortening may all be involved in these differences. The groups did not differ in ultimate muscle pH, muscle collagen content or adrenal cortical activity. A laboratory taste panel consisting of 15 members indicated that the flavour of topside roasts from the animals fed on the cereal was more acceptable.