UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA GROWTH PERFORMANCE, BODY ...

UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

GROWTH PERFORMANCE, BODY CONFORMATION, CARCASS

CHARACTERISTICS AND PALATABILITY OF KEDAH-KELANTAN CATLE AND ITS CROSSES

DAHLAN BIN ISMAIL

FPV 1985 3

This is to certify that we have read this thesis entitled "Growth Performance, Bcdy Confonnation, Carcass Characteristics and Palatability of Kedah-Kelantan cattle and Its Crosses" by Dahlan bin Ismail, and in our opinion it is satisfactory in tenns of scope, quality and presentation as partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science

:'''.j P. ZAINUDDrn, Ph.D. Assoc. P .l..·,_3sor/Dean of Graduate Studies

Universiti Pertanian Malay�ia (ChaiLnan Board of Examiners)

- ��/ � JA..r..m8 D. KEl-1P, Pn.D. • Professor & Coordinator of Food Science Program

Department of Animal Science Um versity of Kentucky

USA (External Examiner)

M)HD. HIIMI IN! ABDULLAH , Ph.D. Lecturer, Dept. of Animal Science

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & k1irnal Science Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.

(Internal Examiner)

MJHD�� DI\HAN, Ph.D. Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Animal Science/ Dean Faculty of Food Science & Technology

Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Internal Examiner/Supervisor)

This thesis was submitted to the Senate of Universiti Pertanian �Blaysia and was accepted as partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science .

Date: " � NOV 1935

GROWI'H PERFORMANCE, BODY CDNFORMATION, CARCASS CHARACI'ERISTICS AND PALATABILITY OF KEDAH-KELANTAN CA'ITLE AND ITS CROSSES

by

Dahlan bin Ismail

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal

Science, Uni versi ti Pertanian Malaysia.

July 1985

This thesis is dedicated to my father Ismail bin Md.. Yunos and my

mother Allahyarhammah Maimunah bte Yusoff who introduced me to

this world . • • • . •• • • .

I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. Mohamed Mahyuddin bin

Mohd. Dahan who provided continuous guidance, support and

encouragement, not only in the prep:l.ration of this thesis, but

also throughout the duration of my graudate studies .

Special thanks are extended to En . Ahmad Shokri Hj. Othman

for his consultation in the statistical analysis of the data and

Dr. Pravee Vijchulata for his valuable suggestions and construc­

tive criticism in the final preparation of this manuscript.

Sincere appreciation is given to En . Shahril Hassan, En .

Ahmad Tarmizi, En . Adnan Yassin and En. Chua Eng Chong for their

assistance in the carcass evaluation and meat science works .

Further acknowledgements are also due to Dr. Mohd. Arief Qnar,

En . Mohd. Nor Hamid, En . Yahya Mail, Puan Norpisah Abdul and En .

Mohsodi Surip for their involvement directly or indirectly in

conducting the research and collection of data in the beef cattle

crossbreeding programme in MARDI Station near Kluang .

I would like to thank Dr. Syed Ali Abu Bakar, Director of

Livestock Research in MARDI who has given me the permission and

encouragement in conducting this research.

iii

Further acknowledgements are due to Malaysian Agricultural

Research and Developnent Institute ( MARDI ) for funding the

research and to Universiti Pertanian Malaysia for providing the

slaughtering and meat laboratory facilities .

This manuscript and the work it represents could not have

been achieved without the patience and understanding of my wife,

Hamidah and my two wonderful daughters, Nur Dalilah and Nur

Khalidah .

iv

TABLE OF CONT£1' 'TS

A�� • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • " • • • • •

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

.ABSTRACT .................................................................. ..

OlAPTER I

CHAPTER II

IN'IRODUcrION • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Genetic improvement of beef cattle

Breed evaluation of beef cattle

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

.. " .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. "

Growth performance ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. - .. .. .... .. .. .. .. ..

Body confo1JTla.tion .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. " .. .. lilt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. fIJ

Carcass characteristics .. . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Palatability .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. .. ..

Carcass characteristics of local cattle .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

CH&DTER III

OlAPTER IV

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Growth performance

Llveweight-age regression coefficients

Body confo1JTla.tion and measurements

Temperament score

Carcass characteristics .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. ..

Carcass cornposi tion ............................................................ ..

'i�holesale cuts or speclal cuts

v

Page

iii

v

vii

);.

xi

1

4

4

6

8

14

18

22

25

27

48

48

58

62

68

71

77

83

Correlations among carcass traits

Palatability

Predicting total lean meat

CHAPTER V SU���Y AND CONCLUSIONS

LITERATURE CITED

APPENDICES

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

PUBLICATIONS

vi

Pags

83

87

94

100

106

120

137

138

LIST OF TABLES

Table

I Kedah-Kelantan cows in the breeding herd • •• w ••

II Ivlating system • • • . . • • • • • . • • • • • . . • . • • • . • • . . •• •..

III Number of straightbred and crossbred KK cattliE

IV

V

progenies

Slaughter weight grouping of straightbred anc crossbreds KK cattle • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • .• ••.

Means and standard deViation values for liveweight of male and female KK cattle and its crosses (pooled weight 1979-1982) • . . • . • •.•

VI Percent advantage in liveweight of F1 KK crossbreds compared with straightbred KK

Page

28

29

32

34

49

cattle • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 0 � 00' 51

VII Mean and standard deviation of adjusted 200�t weaning weight and means of actual weaning age of KK cattle and its crosses (pooled 1979-1981 calves) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *' •••

VIII Average daily gain of KK cattle and its

54

eros sbreds . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ii' • • ___ 56

IX Table of T-values from comparison of liveweight regression lines between adjusted rreans of wale and female KK cattle and its crossbreds (pooled weight) • . • • • • 0 • • 0 0 • • 0 • 0 • • • • • • • 0 • • • • • • • • • • ••••• 5 9

X Comparison of regression lines of livew9ight between KK and its crossbreds • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••• &

XI Mean and standard error values for the starved weight, conformation score and body measur�len� of KK cattle and its crossbreds • • • . • • . • . • • ••• « 63

XII Correlation coefficients between starved weight, conformation score and body measurement of KK cattle and its crossbreds • • • . • • • • • • . . • • • • • • •• �

XIII Temperament scores for KK cattle and its

67

crossbreds • . • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • . • . • 0 � • • • • ••• H 69

XIV Liveweight, carcass weight and dressing percentage at different weight groups of KK ani KK crossbreds Dull • . • . . • . • • • . • . • . • • . • • . . • . . .• .

vii

72

Table

AV Carcass characteristics of KK and KK crossbreds cattle • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • .

XVI Mean and standard deviation values of mea� components in KK cattle and its crossbreds

Page

74

carcass • • • • • • • • . • . • . • • • . • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . . • . 78

AVII Mean values of fat components in KK cattle and its crossbreds carcass • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • . 80

XV"'III Correlation coefficients between rreat, fat and body measurements • • . . . • • . . • • • • . . . • • • • . • . • .

XIX Correlation coefficients between starved weight, age, conformation score and carcass

82

traits .. . .. . . . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .... ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. . ... . ., 84

XX Relationship between starved weight, age fu'1d some carcass traits of KK cattle and its crossbreds .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. '" . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 86

XXI Comparison of mean values for palatability traits, shear force value, ultirrate muscle pH, cooking loss, age group and terrperarnent score •

XXII Correlation coefficients between palatability score, shear force value, starved weight and

88

age .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. 91

XXIII

XXIV

XA'V

XXVI

Relationship between ultimate pH of meat and some palatability traits, shear force value and cooking loss of Longissimus dorsi muscle of KK and its crossbreds ...................................................... ..

The best prediction equations for dependent variable 'total lean meat' from some of the body measurements (all breedtypes) • • • • • • • • • • . .

The best one variable rrodel for prediction of total lean meat for all breedtypes • • • . • • . • • . . .

The best prediction equations for dependent variable 'total lean meat' from some of the carcass traits (all breedtypes) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

viil

92

95

96

98

LIST OF TABLES IN APPENDIX

Appendix

I Live body measurements and confomation . • • • .

II Carcass traits measurements • • • . • . • • • • • • • • • . •

III Beef palatability, shear force value and c()() king data ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ..

IV External and internal organs (offals) • • • • • • .

V Correlation coefficients between total lefu�

Page

120

122

126

127

meat and offals • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • . • • • • • • • . 130

VI Correlation coefficients between palatability scores, starved weight, age, pH and temperament score of KK cattle • • • • • • • • • • • . • • 131

VII Mean values of special cuts for KK and KK crossbreds • • • • • • . • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 132

VIII Chemical composition of Lon�issimus dorsi muscle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ..,

IX Means, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values of palatability scores, W-B values, pH, and temperament scores (all

136

breed types) ........................... " .. ". 137

ix

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1 Live body measurements of cattle 36

2 The procedure of fibricating the beef cattle . • . 41

A. Forequarter B. Hindquarter

x

An abstract of the thesis presented to the SP...na te of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science.

Supervisor:

Faculty:

GROWTH PERFORMANCE, BODY CONFORMATION, CARCASS CHARACI'ERISTICS .AND PALATABILITY OF KEDA..B-KEI.M'TAN CA.'ITLE .AND ITS CROSSES

by

Dahlan bin Ismail

July 1985

Mohamed Mahyuddin bin Mohd. Dahan , Ph. D.

veterinary VBdicine and Animal Sciences

The growth performance of 423 heads of male and female

Kedah-Kelantan ( KK ) cattle and its F1 crosses were reoo:rded from

the same grazing management. Comparisons were made between

progenies of KK cows sired by straightbred KK, American Brahman

(Br), Polled Hereford (Hr), Friesian (Fr) and Jersey (Jy).

The wain objectives of this experiment was to eva:uate the

sim� est crossbreeding system of KK cattle by stral��t cross

between KK female and exotic male for the advantage of heterosis

in the gro\vth performance, conformation, carcass characteristics

and meat palatability in the F1 generation.

The present result showed that all the F1 crossbreds heifers

and bulls were superior in the gro�th performance D1an the

xi

straightbred KK at all ages. All crossbred calves had

significantly hlgher (P < 0.01 ) birth welght than KK. 3rahrnan x

KK ( BK ) calves were the heaviest at birth, followed by Friesian x

KK ( FK ) , Hereford x KK ( HK ) and Jersey x KK (JK), resp2Ctively.

The overall percent advantage of crossbreds at birLh WEl;ht over

KK was 27.13%. FK was the heaviest at the adj us::::ej 200-day

weight, followed by HK , BK, JK and KK respecLvely. All

crossbreds calves were showing better pre-weaning grow� ability

than the KK. HK showed superiority in post weaning growth

performance than the other crossbreds. Ranking of sire breeds by

using the slope of regression equation of growth-age lL�s as the

estimate of growth rate, generally showed consisten�' for the

breedtype among years. Under similar management unit and one

type of maternal environment , the result showed that bLeed. sire ,

especially temperate sires , had contributed the main e:£ect on

all the growth traits of these calves.

HK showed higher conformation score due to the tendency of

the beef breed crosses to fatten at lighter weight �D the dairy

breed crosses . HK and FK had the longest bc:rly, PF was the

tallest at wither, BK was the tallest at t.he hip, N� was the

shortest cattle. HK was the shortest among the crossbrBds at the

hip.

There is evidence for breed difference in the temperament.

Thls study concluded that Bos indicus cattle and crosses (Brahman

x KK) were havlng poor temperament than half-bred cattle (FK, HK

and JK).

xii

The result of carcass evaluation concluded that breed of

sire had no significant effect on factor associated with dressing

percentage but had significant effect (P < 0.05) on the carcass

weight per day of age (CWDA). All the crossbreds showed higher

CWDA than KK in all slaughter weight group. F..K showed the

highest aIDA and 21 to 44% superior than KK as the animal

increases in slaughter weight. Animals sired by beef type (Hr

and Br) produced higher percentage of hindquarter than the

crosses from dairy type (Fr and Jy). HK showed the biggest (P <

0.05) loin eye area in all slaughter weight group.

KK bulls showed lower bone composition and higher lean

composition than other breedtype under similar weight group. Fat

composi tion in the carcass of Zebu cattle (KK and BK i waS higher

than Zebu x temperate cattle.

Comparison of palatability scores between breed t1�

revealed no significant difference but the scores significantly

decreased (P < 0.05) as the cattle increased in age from 28-

month to 40-month. Among breedtypes, FK and BK sh� higher

shear force values than JK, HK and KK. The present result

concluded tr0t ultimate muscle pH of all breedtypes have some

effect on the flavour, overall palatability, tenderness and

cooking loss.

The best single body measurement for prediction of total

lean meat of half carcass was the measurement of heart girth and

the best 4 combination of body measurements found were heart

xiii

girth, width of loin, flank girth and widt.'1 of heal. Carcass

measurements were also used for predictions of total lean meat.

The result showed that forequarter weight, loin eye area, meat to

bone ratio, carcass leng+Jh and dressing percentage are the best 5

variables that should be used in the combination.

XlV

Abstrak

A�strak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Pertanian Malaysia sebagai rnemenuhi sebahagian da�l keperluan untuk Ijazah Master Sains .

GROWTH PERFORMANCE , BODY CONFORMATION ,

CARCASS CHARACI'ERISTICS AND PALATABILITY Of

KEDAH -KELA,."ll'A.� CATI'LE AND ITS CROSSES

by

Dahlan bin Ismail

Julai 1985

Penyelia: Mohamed Ma.'1yuddin bin I'-lohd. DahaTl f Ph . D .

Fakulti: Kedoktoran Veterinar dan Salns Peternakan

Prestasi turnbesaran 423 ekor lernbu Kedah-Kelantail (KK) dan

kacukan-kacukannya generasi F1 ' j antan dan be:t::i:na telah

direkodkan di bawah sistem ragutan yang sarna. �dingan

dilaklL� di antara anak-anak lernbu diibukan oleh l::iail3 KK dan

baka jantannya dari baka-baka tulin KK, American Bra:man ( Br ) ,

Polled Hereford (Hr), Friesian ( Fr ) dan Jersey ( Jy ) .

Tujuan utarna kajian ini ialah untuk rnenilai sistm kacukan

lernbu T<K betina dengan baka j a�an eksotik unb.K iebaikan

prestasi turnbesaran , conforrnasi ( bentuk ) , sifat-sifat l>arkas dan

palatabiliti (penerimaan ) daging pada anak:.-anak kacU<aL generasi

X:v

Keputusan kajian ini menunjukkan kesemua anak�� lemb�

kacukan F. I ( jantan dan lJetina )

tumlJesarannya dari lembu KK tulin.

lebih tingg� prestasi

Kesemua anak-anak kacukan

menunjukkan lJerat lahir yang lebih tinggi dari KK (P < 0 . 01 ).

BrahnELD x KK ( BK ) ialru� yang terlJerat pada berat larri� diikutl

oleh Friesian x KK (FK) I Hereford x KK ( HK) dan Jersey 2: KK {JK}

berturutan . Keseluruhannya , taka-baka kacukan menun]1ikkar 27 . 1 3%

lebih lJerat dari taka KK tulin pada lJerat lahir . IT adalah

terlJerat pada lJerat anggaran 200-hari diikuti pula ole: �K, BK,

JK dan KK lJerturutan. Kesemua anak -anak lemhu kacukan

menunj ukkan kadar tumlJesaran selJelum lJercerai susu yaJ!g lebih

baik dari anak lembu KK tulin . HK menunj ukkan p:-estasi

tumlJesaran selepas lJercerai susu yang tertinggi daTi mKa-taka

kacukan lain . Tiap-tiap jenis taka bapa menunj� aturan

kecerunan persamaan regrasi tumlJesar-umur yang seakan� serupa

bagi tiap-tiap jenis baka yang sarna pada tahun-tahun aj:ian . Di

bawah sistem pengurusan yang sarna dan satu jenis � ibu,

keputusan menunj ukkan baka bapa terutama bapa dan !t:Pis Bos

taurus , telah memainkan peranan yang penting terhadap �SID sifat

tumbesaran anak-anak lembu ini .

HK menunj ukkan I score f conformasi yang tertingqi kerana

keupayaan baka pedaging kacukan menggemuk pada umur ¥IDJ lebih

rendah dari baka kacukan. HK dan FK mempunyai hi:rla.n yang

terpanjang , FK tertinggi di bahu, BK tertinggi di p,i�qgi!!llg, KK

adalah lembu yang terendah , HK adalah baka kacukan yCfl� 1Xrendah

di piilggang dan di bahu .

xvi

Dari kajian ini juga terdapat bukti rnenunjukkan perbezaan

antara baka di dalam sifat kelakuan (temperament). Kajian ini

rnemutuskan bahawa lernbu baka Bos indicus dan kacukamIya (BK)

rnenghadapi sifat kelakuan yang kurang terkawal dari lsrou baka

kacukan separa (FK I HK dan JK).

Keputusan uraikaji karkas rnenunjukkan baka �pa tidak

rnenunjukkan kesan terhadap faktor-faktor bersang� dengan

peratus pernotongan, tetapi berkesan (P < 0.05) pada l::e:::at karkas

setiap hari urnur (CWDA). Kesemua kacukan rnenunj ukkan OOA yang

lebih tinggi dari KK dalam kesemua kurnpulan penyerrilielruxm. HK

rnenunj ukkan CWDA yang tertinggi dan lebih tinggi dari Kr sebanyak

21 hingga 44% rnengikut bertarnbahnya berat penyernbel� Lembu

yang rnenggunakan bapa j enis pedaging (Hr dan Br) me1Kjj1asilkan

peratus suku belakang karkas yang lebih tinggi dari ba1p.a jenis

tenusu (Fr dan Jy). HK rnenunjukkan luas daging bataItg pinang

( loin eye area) yang terbesar dalam kesemua kurnpulan ps:notongan

(P < 0.05). Baka KK jantan rnenunjukkan kandungan buJang yang

rendah dan kandungan daging yang tinggi dari j enis taka lain

dalam kurnpulan bera t yang sarna. Kandungan lemak lerrtlu je...YJ.is Bos

indicus ( KK dan BK) lebih tinggi dari lernbu Bos indicts x Bos

tafu'US.

Perbandingan ' score I penerirnaan daging (palatability score)

antara jenis-jenis baka rnenunjukkan tidak ada kesan �31g nyata

tetapi score rnenurun (P < 0.05) apabila urnur bertarntah rlari 28-

bulan ke 40-bulan. Di antara jenis baka , FK dan BK merrunjukkan

daya keliatan ( shear force) yang tinggi dari JK, EK dan KK.

xvii

Keputusan ini menunjukkan ph otot t:.ercapai (ultimat:.E pH) 'dari

kesemua jenis baka ada mempunyai kesan terhadap rasa, �uruhan

penerimaan daging, kelembutan dan kehilangan beLa! semasa

dimasak.

Ukuran badan yang terbaik UI1.tuk persamaan ram alar: j urnlah

daging dari separu.l-J karkas adalah ukuran lili tan Cada, dan

gabungan 4 ukuran badan yang terbaik ialah lili tan dada, lebar

'loin' lilitan pinggang dan lebar kepala. Ukuran -Ukl.Lr-ar:, karkas

juga digunakan untuk perSamaan ramalan j umlah daging. Keputusan

menunjukkan berat suku belakang, luas daging batanq'i pinang,

nisbah daging ke tulang, panjang karkas dan peratus penotongan

adalah 5 variabel terbaik patut digunakan secara gabungarr:..

xviii

CHAPTER I

IN'IROOOCI'ION

Beef production in tropical regions of the verld is

genera 11 y low compared to that in te,l1pera te zones. J\l::hough the

developing countries (mostly in the tropical regions) ha'vE 70% of

the world's cattle and buffalo population but they produce only

34% of the world's beef; thus they have unexploi ted resources

(Jasiorowski, 1976). The bovine meat production froID developing

countries was only 15.5 million tons in 1982 compared to 31.2

million tons from developed countries (Asian Livestock, 1 983).

In general, the international beef export and import trade is

dominated by the highly developed countries with only .P.rgentina

among the developing countries playing an important role on the

eh1JOrt side.

In Malaysia; beef production is very low in terms of quantity

and quaU ty . The indigenous Kedah-Kelantan cattle are less

prcx:iuctive in terms of grovJth, meat and milk yield. Their

population is relatively small and there is currently c shortage

of breeding fernales for multiplication. More L'1an 90% of the

cattle producer or rearer are the smallholders.

amongst smallholders is mainly a supplementary

Beef production

acti viq. The

farmer usually keeps one to a few heads of cattle or mffaloes

which are integrated wi th the whole pattern of his cropping

syste111. In 1 980, the estirrated local production of m-ine meat

1

and consumption is around 1 3,000 and 20 , 000 tons, J2-�tively

(Anon, 1 981 ) . Thus, there is still insufficient �ion of

meat to meet the national requirement.

There is an attempt to increase cattle produc�±n this

country but the Government have encountered many �r,,:; " aints.

The first constraint is the availability of adequate ��r of

improved genetic stock of cattle. Generally, anirnals�h have

evolved in a tropical environment are well adapted jn that

environment in terms of survival of the species but my not be

well adapted in teITtls of providing optimum quanti ties: c;f beef.

For example,

they have

the indigenous Kedah-Kelantan ( KK ) cattle., cthough

survived well in this country in term£ o� high

fertility and total adaptatlon to the environment, t:lre:.sz: cattle

are very slow in growth. Conversely, temperate breeds vttch have

been evolved principally for beef production in tempeIat:!! areas

and have undergone various selection progra..'1lITles, may Itt l:E well

adapted for survival or production in tropical aIES3:. The

animals ei ther do not survive or do not breed� Jx: their

performance is much poorer here than in their countr.;' C£ origin

(r.lason and Buvanendrar" 1 982 ) • Breed developnent for IlE2.t and

milk production is not only time consuming but alsc 1ocation

specific. There is, therefore, a need for tl:e genetic

variability which is available in the indigenous breeds�cattle

and in new production to be carefl::.lly assessed so that rl!e kind

of cattle propagated or developed are suitable for our�tions

and er:yirOnmenL

2

vilhile crossbreeding may have advantages for romerclal

production, stralghtbred stocks will be needed for crmercial

production on operations where crossbreeding is not ��ctiDal and

as source of breeding stock for crossbreeding operations. Little

is known about the performance of some of the crossh.-rsfs cattle

in this country. Baharin (1 978) reported that most of i::l:E trials

conducted at UPI1, MARDI, Institut Haiwan and commercial LarrnS do

indicate encouraging performance of the crossbreeds. XMever,

most of the estimates are derived from a small safilple cf data.

There is no information concerning the expected �ce,

carcass cr�acteristics and the acceptability of the �ss of

the crossbred in the local market. The availability of t.he

information on the conformation and palatability of l� breed

and crossbreds cattle under improved pasture conditioR � also

scarce.

Realising the benefits of crossbreeding in beef pEmuction

in terms of hybrid vigour in F1 progeny, straigh;: crossing

between KK cows and purebred exotic breed bulls will be carried

out in this study.

The objectives of this study are: (1 ) to study i:i:E: growth

perfon:ence, body conformation, carcass characteristics arl meat

palatability of the KIZ cattle and its crosses; ( 2 ) to fiLovide

lnforrnation on temperamerltal behaviour of these cattle GEJL (3) to

develop predictlon equations for estL�ting lean quntity in

L�ese cattle based on live body measurements anc carcass

measurements.

3

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

a} Genetic improvement of beef cattle

There exist two methods for genetic improvener�: (1)

selection which changes the addi ti ve genetic potentia=.. &�d ( 2 )

crossbreeding which is based on both additive and nor�dditive

potential of the population. There is no doubt that bott: methcds

can and must be used in developing countries. But S21ection

programnes is normally time consuming and re�-s sound

production testing scheme. Genetic improvement through selection

programnes for cattle in the developed countries rave been

advanced to

infrastructural

the present

elements

stage,

necessary

chiefly be�e the

for planned breeding

programnes such as intensive performance recording and A..I. are

available. The recent advances have also been made in p:lpulation

genetics and statistics which have made it possible to develop

genetic improvement schemes applicable on a national

contrast, infra structural elements for national

scale. In

breeding

programnes are lacking or are inadequate in most parts of the

tropics.

The quickest way to improve the productivity of aoornercial

cattle in the tropics is to exploit hybrid vigowr through

systematic crossbreeding (Koger, 1963 ) • There are several

reasons for using crossbreeding in the tropics, 2pLrt from

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