Carcass and Meat Characteristics of Hararghe Highland Bull after Draught Work Service

The objectives of the study were to examine the effects of draught work on carcass characteristics, meat yield potential, and distribution along primal cuts in Hararghe highland bulls fed on net energy requirement basis. Twelve bulls were sorted into three groups of four animals each and assigned to three treatment hours: control (0), 4, or 6, using a complete randomized design (CRD). The results of the study show that there are no significant differences (p > 0.05) in slaughter weight, hot carcass weight (HCW), chilling loss, total edible and non-edible offal, fat thickness (FT), deboned meat yield (kg), meat to bone ratio, muscle distribution, and proportion of kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (KPH%) among the treatment groups. However, the hot carcass-based dressing percentage was significantly lowered (p < 0.05) in bulls that work 4 or 6 hours a day. Meat yield was strongly correlated with HCW (r = 0.74) and FT (r = 0.73). Therefore, the number of hours the bull spent on draught work did not negatively impact meat yield or quality. Consequently, the research suggests that utilizing Hararghe highland bulls for draught service, four or six hours a day is viable for dual advantages: crop cultivation and marketable carcass.

Eating Quality of Beef from Arsi, Borana, and Harar Cattle Breed, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to evaluate the eating qualities of Arsi, Borana, and Harar Cattle breeds in Ethiopia. A total of 39 bulls with age categories of <3, 4 - 6, and 7 - 9 years were used for the study. The bulls were purchased from mixed crop-livestock systems (Arsi and Harar) and Ranch (Borana) and slaughtered to evaluate the eating quality. WBSF device was used to evaluate instrumental tenderness while sensory panel testing was used to evaluate sensory tenderness, juiciness and flavor. The color of the meat was evaluated using Hunter Lab Mini Scan EZ while water holding capacity was evaluated using filter papers. A complete randomized design was used for the study. Breed significantly affected (P < 0.0001) instrumental tenderness with beef from Harar and Boran bulls were very tender (18.55 ± 5.34, 20.34 ± 4.06N, respectively) while beef from Arsi bulls intermediate in tenderness (40.60 ± 0.51N). Beef from all age group of Harar and Boran breeds were very tender while beef from the Arsi breed was very tender for age < 3 years, intermediate for 4 - 6 and tough for age group > 7 years of age. Flavor and juiciness was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by breed. Flavor from Harar and Boran breeds were moderately liked while flavor from Arsi was liked slightly. Beef from Boran breed was ranked juicier than beef from Harar and Arsi breed. Borana (<3 years) beef was higher (P < 0.05) in lightness (L*) than Arsi and Harar indicating more quality beef from Borana breed. From the study it was concluded that Arsi bulls older than four years of age produced tougher beef suggesting the use of this breed for beef at early age while beef from Borana and Harar breed can be used to 9 years of age as they produce very tender meat.

Proximate Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of Beef from Arsi, Borana and Harar Cattle Breeds in Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

This study was conducted to determine proximate composition and profile of fatty acid of beef from Arsi, Borana and Harar Cattle breeds in Ethiopia. A total of 39 bulls with three age categories were used for the study. The bulls were purchased from mixed crop livestock system (Arsi and Harar cattle breeds) and Ranch (Borana cattle breed). Complete randomized design was used for the study. Longissimus dorsi muscle was used to evaluate proximate composition and profile of fatty acid. The result of the study indicated that mean of percentage of dry matter, ash, crude fat and crude protein were ranging 22.43 - 24.26, 0.32 - 1.28, 4.32 - 7.88, 17.21 - 22.76, respectively. At age younger than 3 years, Harar bulls contain more crude fat compared to Arsi bulls while the vice versa was true for crude protein. The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was higher than saturated fatty acid (SFA) in the three breeds studied across all age categories. However, significantly higher (P < 0.01) PUFA and lowest (P < 0.05) SFA found in Harar breed whereas the opposite hold true for Arsi bulls. Ratio of n-6: n-3 in the muscle of bulls under the study was ranged from 2.10 to 2.57. Concentration of PUFA and MUF in muscle of the three breeds were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by age. From the study it was concluded that Arsi, Boran and Harar bulls under the three age categories contained more than 3% minimum crude fat that is required to insure palatability of the beef. The higher concentration of PUFA over SFA in all breeds across age categories indicated that the meat from these cattle breeds has less risk hazard to human health. However, a strategy needs to be developed to increase the ratio of n-6: n-3 to the nutritional recommendations by the World Health Organization which is 4:1 to 5:1. Moreover, the cause of the difference in proximate composition and profile of fatty acid between breeds under the study at different age categories needs to be investigated.

Growth Performance of Arsi, Borana, Harar and HF-Crossbred Bulls Finished under Similar Feeding Condition

The study was conducted to evaluate the fattening performance of Arsi, Borana, Harar and Holstein Friesian crossbred bulls finished under a similar feeding condition at the beef farm in Haramaya University. The average daily weight gain of the four breeds ranges from 0.49 to 0.71 kg. Feed conversion efficiency also ranges from 0.11 - 0.15. Simple linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between live body weight change and change in body condition score as well as seven linear body measurements for all age groups. An average change for a unite of body condition score was equivalent to 20.3, 20.61, 22.42 and 27.78 kg for Borana, Arsi, Harar and Holstein Friesian crossbred bulls respectively. Body condition score was significantly influenced by breeds. There was a significant breed by age interaction effect on the initial body condition score of the four breeds. There was a significant and positive strong association between change in body weight and body condition score. There was a significant and strong correlation between change in body weight and change in Total topline, neck length, heart girth, flank circumference and rump length having correlation coefficients ranges from 0.57 to 0.97. A higher net profit of 7380.47 ETB per head was recorded by Borana bulls followed by Harar bulls, Arsi and Holstein Friesian crossbred with net profit of 5406.86, 5193.29 and 3384.98 ETB per head respectively. Borana bulls are more superior in weight gain and net profit. Bodyweight change could be predicted based on body condition score change during the fattening period.

Carcass and Meat Characteristics of Bulls from Arsi, Boran, Harar and Holstein Frisian Crosses Cattle Breeds Finished under Similar Level of Concentrate Supplementation

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of age and breeds (Arsi, Borana, HF-Cross and Harar) on carcass and meat characteristics of bulls finished under similar feeding conditions. The feeding experiment was conducted for 90 days at Beef farm of Haramaya University. In this experiment, 24 bulls were fed with roughage (60%) which contained grass hay and wheat straw and concentrate (40%) which contained wheat bran, noug (gucia abysica) cake, maize grain, limestone, salt and ruminant premix. The bulls were transported to Bishoftu ELFORA export abattoir for slaughter following the procedure of the abattoir. The result of the study revealed that the average slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, shrink loss, commercial dressing and true dressing percentage were 179.1 kg, 86.8 kg, 82.7 kg 4.7%, 48.8% and 78.3%, respectively. Total edible and nonedible offal were significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by breed and age. Pelvic fat was significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by breeds. Meat yield percentages of Arsi, Boran, Harar, and HF-crossbred were 78.1%, 77%, 72.8% and 77.2% respectively. Meat yield was predicted from fat thickness and ribeye area with 61% accuracy. Arsi bulls attained the highest (78%) meat yield at early age but decreased by 0.713 rate as age of animals advanced by one digit whereas the meat yield from other breeds showed increment in meat yield percentage with the rate of 1.98, 1.1 and 0.1 for cross, Borana and Harar breed bulls, respectively as age advanced. Yield from fore shank, sirloin, top and bottom sirloin primal cuts were affected by breed. Arsi breed had higher meat bone ration than cross breed. Retailed meat yield was significantly (P < 0.001) predicted from rib area and subcutaneous fat thickness (P < 0.001) with a coefficient of determination 61%, from live animal trait and primal cuts with a coefficient of determination 89.56% and 94.78% respectively. Arsi bulls can be used for beef purpose at 2 - 3 years, as the meat percentage decreases thereafter;while bulls from Boran, cross breed and Harar breeds can be used up to 5 years of age. Meat to bone ratio indicated that HF-Crossbred was less appropriate for beef purpose than other breed bulls in this study. The rate of pH decline was not influence (P > 0.05) by age and breed in the current study.

Carcass Traits, Meat Yield and Primal Meat Cuts from Arsi, Harar, Ogaden and F1 Jersey*Horro Crossbred Bulls Fed Corn Silage Based Similar Finishing Diet

This study was conducted with the objective to determine carcass traits, meat yield, and primal meat cuts of Arsi, Harar, Jersey*Horro crossbred, and Ogaden cattle breeds at Haramaya University, Ethiopia. A total of 12 bulls of four cattle breeds (3 Arsi, 3 Harar, 3 F1 Jersey*Horro crossbred and 3 Ogaden) with almost similar ages were randomly assigned to four treatments in a completely randomised design (CRD). Data on carcass traits, meat yield, and primal meat cuts were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM) of the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) 9.4 version. The overall averages of live body weight, hot carcass weight, chilled carcass weight, dressing percentages based on hot carcass weight, and rib eye area of experimental cattle breeds were 215.58 kg, 102.93 kg, 99.56 kg, 47.61%, and 8.13 inch2, respectively. The hot carcass weight and chilled carcass weight of the Ogaden (136.57;133.30 kg, resp.) breed were higher (p < 0.01) compared to other experimental cattle breeds. Dressing percentages based on hot carcass weight were higher (p < 0.05) for the Ogaden (49.61%) and Arsi (49.82%) cattle breeds compared to Harar and Jersey*Horro crossbred (45.73%, 45.27%, resp.) cattle breeds. The average meat yield and proportion of meat yield of cattle breeds were 77.52 kg and 77.46%, respectively. With a linear regression coefficient of prediction (R2) ranging from 52.26% to 93.58%, primal meat cuts significantly (p dicted meat yield. In conclusion, the breed of cattle had a significant (p 0.05) influence on live body weight, hot and chilled carcass weight, dressing percentage, rib eye area, subcutaneous fat thickness, meat yield, and the weights of most primal meat cuts. The Ogaden cattle breed had a higher and better meat yield, carcass traits, and most primal meat cuts compared to other experimental cattle breeds. Furthermore, the inclusion of corn silage in the diet of fattening bulls improved the carcass and meat yield. Therefore, the performance of Ogaden cattle compared to other and previous studies suggests the possibility of using this breed for export purposes in addition to Borana and Harar cattle breeds in the future.