EFFECTS OF BREED OF SIRE AND BREED OF DAM OF COW ON CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE-WAY CROSS BEEF CATTLE REARED AT TWO LOCATIONS

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Abstract
Carcass characteristics of 3673 steers and heifers born over a 6-yr period 1973-1978 at Brandon, Manitoba [Canada] (farm conditions) and Manyberries, Alberta (range conditions) were compared. Calves weaned at Manyberries were fed and evaluated at Lacombe. The progeny were out of 10 specific F1 crosses of dams mated to bulls of the Charolais (C), Simmental (S), Limousin (L) and Chianina (Chi) breeds. Dam crosses included the Hereford .times. Angus (HA) and crosses sired by C, S and L sires out of H, A and Shorthorn (N) dams. Breed of sire of dam effects indicated that progeny from S cross cows generally had the heaviest carcasses S = C > L, the greatest carcass weight per day of age S = C > L, the highest percentage of dissected bone of the round S > C > L and rib S > C = L, the highest proportions of brisket S > L > C and flank S > L = C, and carried more kidney fat (percent liveweight) S > C = L and average rib fat S > C = L. Progeny from Limousin and Charolais cross cows had the highest dressing percentage L .gtoreq. C > S and rib eye area/100 kg carcass weight L > C > S while those from Limousin cross cows had the highest proportion of long loin and the combined lean cuts (rib, round and long loin) a higher percentage of dissected lean in the round L > C > S and the highest lean-to-bone ratio L > C > S. Progeny from dams of Shorthorn breeding generally had the heaviest carcasses, the greateast carcass weight per day of age, the highest percentage kidney fat and at Brandon the greatest proportions of plate and brisket. Hereford cross dams consistently produced progeny with the highest percentage head H = A > N, hide H .gtoreq. A > N, feed H > A = N, percentage bone in the long loin H .gtoreq. A = N, round H > N .gtoreq. A, and rib H > N .gtoreq. A, and the highest percentage lean in the long loin H > N (Brandon) and chuck H > N (Brandon). The progeny from Angus cross dams carried the greatest average rib fat A .gtoreq. N, had the greatest rib eye area/100 kg carcass weight A .gtoreq. H = N, the highest percentage lean in the round A .gtoreq. H = N, and the highest lean to bone ratio A > H = N.