title: Changes in carcass and meat quality traits of Danish friesian cull cows with the increase of their age and body condition.
abstract: Data from 98 Danish cull cows were used in this study. Cows were divided into three age groups: 'very young' (<3 years), 'young' (3-5 years) and 'mature' (>4·5 years) and three body condition classes: 'thin', 'normal' and 'fat'. Independent of body condition, age had no significant effect on carcass scores related to conformation or to fatness. However, as the cow dvances in age, the carsass (lean and fat) colour tends to become darker yellow and the longissimus dorsi has a greater area with thicker cover-fat. Meat quality appeared to be independent of age with regards to its colour-related traits and its content of dry matter and intramuscular fat. However, the meat showed an increase in shear force value with age. Independent of age, the classification of cows according to their condition score prior to slaughter revaled significant differences in the quality of carcass and meat. While passing from 'thin' to 'normal' then to 'fat' condition, the carcasses showed better conformation score, a darker yellow colour, higher score of fatness and larger longissimus dorsi area with thicker cover-fat. The mean from 'fat' cows had similar shear force.
authors: National Institute of Animal Science, Research Centre Foulum, PO Box 39, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Shemeis
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Liboriussen
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bech Andersen
authors: O Y
authors: OY
authors: Abdallah