feedlots and double muscling.
- Thread starter S.R.R.
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BC
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The answer to question #1 is no feedlots do not like double-muscled cattle. Their growth rate is lower.
Question # 2 is yes, a Charolais can be double muscled. BUT other breeds can also have this undesirable trait.
Question # 2 is yes, a Charolais can be double muscled. BUT other breeds can also have this undesirable trait.
BC":2wpo6zdj said:
Growth rate is not a negative factor in double muscled cattle generally. The grow at about the same rate but have larger ribeyes and more lean meat than non-DM cattle.
An excerpt from a recent study:
The DM cattle were not significantly heavier than the NM cattle at slaughter, but they produced heavier carcasses and higher dressing percentages (Table 1). The increased yield of carcass weight was in part due to the increased amount of muscling in the carcasses. This was evident in measures of both ribeye area and ribeye area per hundredweight of carcass (REACWT). Measures of fatness were significantly lower in the DM carcasses, including external and internal fat depots. As a result of increased muscling and decreased fatness, the DM carcasses had two full lower yield grades than the NM carcasses. As the meat packing industry moves to a value-based system for purchasing cattle, muscling will impact price. Several packers are already utilizing REACWT in their pricing formulas, and thus carcasses from these animals may offer the advantages of more red meat yield and less waste fat.
Something not mentioned: Double muscled cattle have all the traits that Mike mentions, but the study doesn't mention that they don't marble. The commercial meat industry is based on USDA quality grades as well as yield grades. More marbling means higher quality grade means higher value. Consumers pay more for marbled beef, retailers pay more for marbled beef, and packers pay more for marbled beef, feedlots pay more for animals they think will marble. Packers discount cattle that grade Select, compared to Choice (quality grades). They also discount YG 4 cattle. They pay premiums for cattle that grade Choice+ and YG 1-2. Balanced cattle work best.
Frankie":1rhw9ghh said:
Frankie,
Correction: They don't marble as well as Non-double muscled cattle, but they do marble.
I had much rather have a Select YG 1 - 900 lb. carcass than a
Choice YG 3 - 600 lb. carcass. A built in discount is in those little slab sided cattle. Do the math.
Look at the Choice-Select spreads lately, seem to be mighty close these days. Pounds still make money for the cattleman.
Tenderness is the main criteria for a pleasant beef eating experience. Double muscling has nothing to with tenderness.
Why did you delete the "Love-Fest" comment? :roll:
