Yields of by-products from different cattle types.

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Livestock Production
• Meat Science

Background:

• Understanding the economic value of cattle by-products is crucial for the meat industry.
• Phenotypic characteristics, such as breed type, can influence carcass composition and by-product yields.
• Optimizing slaughter processes requires knowledge of how different cattle types contribute to overall yield.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of cattle breed type on the percentage of various by-product weights relative to live slaughter weight.
• To identify specific by-products that show significant variation among different cattle types.
• To provide data for economic evaluation and management decisions in commercial packing plants.

Main Methods:

• 360 slaughter cattle were phenotypically classified and allocated into breed types.
• Cattle were slaughtered in commercial packing plant lots of 15 head.
• By-product weights were recorded after standard plant separation procedures, and percentages of slaughter weight were calculated.

Main Results:

• Hide weight percentage varied significantly by cattle type; Bos indicus cattle had the highest percentage, while Holstein cattle had the lowest.
• Holstein cattle exhibited a significantly higher percentage of liver by-product compared to other types.
• Other studied by-products (e.g., edible organs, fats) did not show significant or economically relevant differences among cattle types.

Conclusions:

• Cattle breed type is a significant factor influencing hide yield, with implications for hide processing and value.
• Holstein cattle may offer advantages in liver yield, a valuable edible by-product.
• Variations in other by-products among the studied cattle types were minimal, suggesting breed type has limited impact on their economic contribution.