Author(s)

Chala Merera Erge^1*, Yesihak Yusuf Mummed², Mohammed Yusuf Kurtu², Ahmedin Abdurehman Musa³, Mesfin Tafesse Gemeda⁴, Travis Gene O’Quinn⁵

¹Department of Animal Science, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia.
²School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
³Department of Animal Science, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia.
⁴Department of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
⁵Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA.

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 < 0.01) predicted 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.

Meat Yield, Carcass Traits, Primal Meat Cuts, Cattle Breeds, Corn Silage

Erge, C. , Mummed, Y. , Kurtu, M. , Musa, A. , Gemeda, M. and O’Quinn, T. (2022) 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. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 12, 251-270. doi: 10.4236/ojas.2022.122019.