Carcass characteristics and prediction of individual cuts and boneless yield of Bos indicus and Bos indicus × Bos taurus bulls differing in age

No study has reported the carcass characteristics or saleable meat yield prediction models for humped and humpless cattle beef bulls in South Asia. In this study, carcass characteristics and predicted individual meat cuts and boneless yields of Bos indicus and Bos indicus × Bos taurus bulls differing in age were investigated. A total of 96 humped (n = 48, Bos indicus) and humpless (n = 48, Bos indicus × Bos taurus) bulls aged 18–24 months and 25–36 months, were used. Carcass characteristics, meat cuts, and by-product yields of humped and humpless beef bulls were compared. The authors also developed prediction models to estimate the boneless and individual meat cut yields of the bulls through morphometry and hot carcass weight (HCW) by performing regression analysis. Carcass conformation and fatness classes were determined using the “EUROP” grading scheme, whereas; meat color, fat color, marbling score, backfat thickness, and ribeye area were assessed from ribeye steak using AUS-MEAT chiller assessment standards. Humpless and 25–36 months of age bulls exhibited relatively better grading characteristics (carcass conformation, ribeye area, and marbling score) and higher weights (live, carcass, meat cuts, and by-products) than humped and 18–24 months of age bulls, respectively. Linear body measurements explained 69.6% vs. 66% of the variance in forequarter yield, 78.1% vs. 59.7% of that in hindquarter yield, and 72% vs. 64.8% of that in total boneless yield of humped and humpless bulls, respectively. Furthermore, the HCW explained 92.9% vs. 92.8% of the variance in forequarter yield, 94.4% vs. 95.9% of that in hindquarter yield, and 96.4% to 97% of that in total boneless yield of humped and humpless bulls, respectively. Among the different meat cuts, the HCW explained the highest variances in blades and silversides (90% and 93.3%, respectively), whereas the lowest variances were observed in cube rolls and foreleg shins (37.4% and 34.8%) in humped and humpless bulls, respectively. The results of the present study suggest that humpless and 25–36 months of age category bulls could be used to obtain superior quality carcasses with optimum meat production to meet the demands of meat importers. Moreover, linear body measurements and HCW could play an essential role in the cost-effective prediction and value-based marketing of individual meat cuts and the total boneless yield of humped and humpless bulls. However, further studies with large datasets are needed to validate the prediction model equations developed in this study.