Carcass Characteristics of Purebred and Crossbred Beef Steers in the Gulf Coast Region

An experiment was initiated in 1952 to evaluate the merits of different breeds of beef cattle and crosses among these breeds with respect to productive performance and carcass characteristics. Angus, Brahman, Brangus, Charolaise, Hereford, and Shorthorn bulls were mated to Angus, Brahman, Brangus, and Hereford cows, resulting in the production of 24 different types of cattle. This mating plan was carried out over a five-year period and produced 275 steers which were fed out on a wheat and rye grass pasture with a concentrate supplement for a 168-day period. The steers were slaughtered in the University's meats laboratory. A highly significant influence of slaughter weight on slaughter grade, carcass grade, cold dressing percent, and area of rib eye was found, so these measurements were adjusted accordingly. Analyses of slaughter grades and carcass grades yielded similar results and showed that Angus, Hereford, and Shorthorn breeding in the steers resulted in higher grades than did Brahman, Brangus, and Charolaise breeding. However, Brahman and Brahman crossbred steers were characterized by higher cold dressing percents.