This work was conducted with the objective to study the quantitative and qualitative traits of carcass and meat of two Hereford categories, two years old steers and cull cows with average age of eight years. Twelve animals of each categorie were randomly taken from the same herd, and feedlot finished during a 112 days period, being the roughage (sugar cane) : concentrate ratio of 69 : 31 during the first phase of 56 days and 57 : 43 during the second phase. Slaughter weight was higher for cows (475.7 vs. 426.7 kg), as well as the sidecut percentage (15.28 vs. 14.20%), but cows showed lower cold dressing percentage (46.62 vs. 49.14%). No significant difference between categories was observed for cold carcass weight. The steers showed higher carcass conformation score ("good" <FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT> vs. "regular") and arm perimeter (34.67 vs. 33.58 cm), but lower carcass length (121.9 vs. 131.6 cm) than the cows. Longissumus dorsi area was higher for the steers (54.52 cm²) than for the cows (48.72 cm²), as well as the carcass muscle percentage (63.96 vs. 56.28%), but the cull cows showed higher carcass fat percentage (25.29 vs. 21.08%) and marbling score ("small" <FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT> vs. "light <FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT>"). Meat from the steers was more juicy (5.45 vs. 4.70 points), had better flavor (5.60 vs. 4.83 points) and was more tender (5.15 vs. 4.12 points) than meat from the cows. However, no significant difference in the Shear value was observed between the two categories. Meat of the cows showed higher cooking loss (33.94%) than meat from the steers (31.55%). The results of this work showed that the steers slaughtered with two years of age, produce leaner carcasses and meat of better quality than cull cows.
Bos taurus; categories; cull females; marbling; tenderness
