Working chute behavior of feedlot cattle can be an indication of cattle temperament and beef carcass composition and quality

Noah L Hall; David S Buchanan; Vernon L Anderson; Breanne R Ilse; Kasey R Carlin; Eric P Berg

doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2011.03.020

Working chute behavior of feedlot cattle can be an indication of cattle temperament and beef carcass composition and quality

Meat Sci. 2011 Sep;89(1):52-7. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2011.03.020. Epub 2011 Apr 9.

Authors

Noah L Hall¹, David S Buchanan, Vernon L Anderson, Breanne R Ilse, Kasey R Carlin, Eric P Berg

Affiliation

¹ Koch Equipment LLC, 1414 West 29th St, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.

PMID: 21546170
DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2011.03.020

Abstract

The relationship between working chute temperament and beef carcass quality traits were measured on 183 crossbred feedlot steers. Steers were weighed and sorted into 16 pens and weighed every 28 days. Temperament was evaluated as exit velocity (EV), chute score (CS), and catch score (CAPS). Tissue samples were collected for DNA profile including docility (IGENITY®, Merial Limited, Duluth, GA, U.S.A). Steers were harvested at 14 to 16 months of age (606 ± 52 kg). Exit velocity increased and CS and CAPS values declined over time. Steers receiving a lower CAPS score had more marbling (P = 0.02). Ribeye steaks from steers with a slow first recorded EV were more tender (P = 0.02) than steaks from faster EV steers. IGENITY® docility index had a positive (P = 0.09) correlation (r = 0.15) with Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBS) indicating a higher docility index was loosely associated with tougher meat.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Behavior, Animal*
Body Composition*
Cattle
Genetic Variation
Male
Meat / analysis*
Motor Activity*
Muscle, Skeletal
Regression Analysis