The influence of commercial type of steers on carcass and beef meat quality parameters

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of steer breeds on carcass quality traits and selected indicators of nutritional quality (dry matter content, intramuscular fat content, protein content, ash content and meat colour parameters). A total of 27 steers were included in the experiment – 10 purebred Czech Fleckvieh (C) steers, 8 Czech Fleckvieh x Galloway (Ga) crossbreeds and 9 Czech Fleckvieh x Charolais (Ch) crossbreeds. The selected parameters were evaluated in dependence on the breed of steers. From the viewpoint of the carcass quality, it is more advantageous for breeders to use Czech Fleckvieh x Charolais crossbreeds, or to rear purebred Czech Fleckvieh steers. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in beef meat nutritional parameters were found only in intramuscular fat content between C × Ga steers and the other two groups. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the colour of beef meat was found in beef colour intensity between C × Ga crossbreeds and the other steer groups. Beef with the lightest colour came from C × Ch crossbreeds.