Investigation of Fattening Performance, Slaughter, Carcass and Some Meat Quality Characteristics of Imported Simmental, Charolaise and Belgian Blue x Holstein F1 Bullocks

Abstract This research was carried out to examine the fattening performance, slaughter, carcass and some meat quality characteristics under intensive fattening conditions of Simmental, Charolaise and Belgian Blue x Holstein F₁ bullocks imported from Europe to Türkiye. The animal material of the study was consisted of 13 Simmental, 14 Charolaise and 15 Belgian Blue x Holstein F₁ (BBxH F₁) bullocks, in totally 42 heads. Data for fattening performance were taken for 9 months of fattening period between the ages of 11–19 months. The bullocks were fed ad libitum with total mixed ration (TMR) (17% crude protein and 2700 kcal/kg DM metabolic energy). The fattening period of the Simmental, Charolaise and BBxH F₁ bullocks was started at the 11 month of age with the live weight of 415.63 ± 10.72, 434.78 ± 15.97 kg and 405.60 ± 16.83 kg (P > 0.05), and finished at 19 month of age with the live weight of 648.04 ± 17.54, 742.91 ± 17.50 and 680.51 ± 15.02 kg (P < 0.001), respectively. In the genotypes, the means during whole fattening period were determined as 0.969 ± 0.053, 1.313 ± 0.076, and, 1.146 ± 0.055 kg (P < 0.001) for average daily weight gains (ADWG); 12.349, 9.192 and 10.368 kg for feed conversion rate (FCR); 62 ± 1.11, 60.12 ± 0.77, and 58.33 ± 0.83% for chilled dressing percentages, respectively. In the genotypes, while the ratios of total meat in the whole carcass were obtained as 79.20 ± 0.69, 74.96 ± 0.52 and 76.52 ± 0.98% (P < 0.01), the ratios of total bone were 17.57 ± 0.13, 15.49 ± 0.72 and 16.17 ± 0.49%, respectively. The means for the meat quality traits in the genotypes ascertained at 24th hours after slaughter were obtained as 5.54 ± 0.03, 5.65 ± 0.16, and 5.59 ± 0.06 for pH of longissimus thoracic muscle; 41.71 ± 1.14, 37.73 ± 2.22, and 43.22 ± 1.17 for L* (P < 0.05); 19.39 ± 0.64, 17.91 ± 1.76, and 19.40 ± 0.29 for a*; 11.93 ± 0.33, 10.66 ± 1.38, and 11.35 ± 0.39 for b*; 16.45 ± 0.40, 13.72 ± 1.08, and 15.85 ± 0.95% for water holding capacity; 23.16 ± 1.85, 26.28 ± 1.16, and 18.37 ± 0.94% for cooking loss (P < 0.01), respectively. In conclusion, it was determined that the fattening performances of imported Simmental, Charolaise, and BBxH F₁ bullocks under intensive fattening conditions were acceptable, and the best in Charolaise bullocks compared to the other genotypes. While the ratios of the valuable cuts in the whole carcass, and some meat quality characteristics was the lowest in Charolaise, it was determined that the ratios of various bones in the whole carcass was higher in the Simmental bullock compared to the other genotypes.