Factors Influencing Intermuscular Fat Deposition in the Beef Chuck

Fifty-nine steers produced from the crossing of Braford, Simbrah, Senepol and Simmental bulls to Brahman-sired and Romana Red-sired cows, and from the mating of Brahman bulls to Angus cows were used in this study to determine effects of breed group and age-season of feeding on fat distribution in depots of the chuck. Half of the steers were placed in the feedlot immediately afterweaning, and the others were stockered during the winter and fed as yearlings during the summer. Steers were slaughtered at a compositional equivalent endpoint (.4 in external fat) as determined by visual appraisal and with realtime ultrasound monitoring. Percentage seam fat in the chuck did not differ ( P < .05) among breeds or age-season of feeding; however, percentage subcutaneous fat was greater (P<.05) in the Braford-sired steers than in steers of the other sire-breed groups.