Acceptability of Beef from Angus-Hereford or Angus-Hereford-Brahman Steers Finished on All-Forage or a High-Energy Diet

Eighty-seven steers [44 Angus-Hereford (AH) and 43 Angus-Hereford-Brahman (AHB)] on similar forage diets were randomly assigned according to breed-type over a 2-yr period to either a 70-d corn-based diet or a forage-based diet of bermudagrass and ryegrass pastures. The steers were fed to an average slaughter weight of 482 kg, and live-animal performance, carcass characteristics, muscle quality and palatability of steaks were evaluated. The 70-d grain-fed steers had higher (P<.01) average on-test daily gains than the forage-fed steers. The AHB steers had heavier (P<.05) final test weights and gained faster for the total test period than the AH steers. The grain-fed steers had a higher dressing percentage, more marbling, a higher quality grade and whiter fat than the forage-fed steers (P<.01). The forage-fed steers had darker lean color, higher Hunter color difference scores and higher myoglobin concentration than the grain-fed steers (P<.01). Even though the fat thicknesses were similar for the two breed-types, the AH steers had more marbling and higher quality grades (P<.01) than the AHB steers. Steaks from AH steers had lower shear values (P<.05) than steaks from the AHB steers as measured by Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS). There were no significant differences in consumer evaluations of loin, rib or round steaks attributable to diet. Both the AH and AHB steers finished on all-forage or a 70-d grain diet produced an acceptable consumer product.