Characterisation of Young Bulls of the Bruna Dels Pirineus Cattle Breed (Selected from Old Brown Swiss) in Relation to Carcass, Meat Quality and Biochemical Traits
Meat Science 66 (2004) 425–436 www.elsevier.com/locate/meatsci Characterisation of young bulls of the Bruna dels Pirineus cattle breed (selected from old Brown Swiss) in relation to carcass, meat quality and biochemical traits X. Serraa,*, M. Gila, M. Gisperta, L. Guerreroa, M.A. Olivera, C. San˜ udob, M.M. Campob, B. Paneab, J.L. Olletab, R. Quintanillac,1, J. Piedrafitac aInstitut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimenta`ries (IRTA), Centre de Tecnologia de la Carn, Granja Camps i Armet s/n, 17121 Monells, Girona, Spain bDepartamento de Produccio´n Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Universidad de Zaragoza, Miguel Servet, 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain cDepartament de Cie`ncia Animal i dels Aliments, Universitat Auto`noma de Barcelona, Campus Universitari, Edifici V, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain Received 16 July 2002; received in revised form 13 May 2003; accepted 30 May 2003 Abstract Seventy-four young bulls of the Bruna dels Pirineus beef cattle breed were reared in a typical production system and slaughtered at an average age of 381 days and live weight of 541 kg. The animals were evaluated for productive traits, carcass quality, meat quality, eating quality and biochemical characteristics of m. longissimus thoracis (LT). Biochemical measurements included intra- muscular fat (IMF) and collagen proportion, haem pigment concentration, lactate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase activities and type I (MHC I) fibre percentage determined by ELISA. Bruna dels Pirineus bulls achieved high growth rates during the fattening period (1.63 kg/day) and showed good carcass quality, with a high dressing-out proportion (607 g/kg, hot carcass), a good conformation score (U; EUROP) and a moderate fatness score (3;1–5).
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