Comparative Study of Some Chemical, Physical Characteristics and Quality Attributes of Muscles of Two Baggara Cattle Sub-types (Messari and Nyallawi)

Abstract

Twenty four fattened Baggara bulls (Nyalawi and Messari) (twelve each) were selected from the commercial herd at the Animal Production Research Center (kuku), Khartoum North. The animals were used to study characteristics of eighteen selected muscles. The bulls were fed ad libitum on a concentrate molasses diet and sorghum straw at the rate of 80% and 20% respectively. Live body measurements, slaughter data, carcass data, muscles size, meat chemical composition, muscle quality attributes were studied. Live body measurements of the two sub-types of Baggara bulls (Nyallawi and Messari) show there were no significant different (P>0.05) in all studied parameters with the exception of heart girth around hump where Nyallawi bulls recorded (172.67 cm ) while Messari bull recorded( 169.00 cm). Regarding side length; Nyallawi recorded105.83 cm and Messari 101.55 cm; chest depth was 55.71 cm for Nyalawi and 54.74 cm for Messari, the pelvic width was 28.95 for Messari and 26.63 cm for Nyalawi. The percentages of all non–carcass components related to empty body weight were not significantly different (P>0.05) between the two cattle sub-types and hence there was no significant difference between the two cattle sub-types in dressing percentages for both hot and cold carcass weight (on slaughter weight and empty body weight basis). All external carcass measurements of the two sub-types had no significant differences (P>0.05) except rib eye muscle area was significantly (P<0.01) wider in Nyallawi than Messari bull. XIII The weights of the selected muscles before trimming were not significantly differed between the two sub-types of bulls except in the M. Biceps brachii in which Nyallawi had the heavier weight 0.309 kg while M. Infraspinatus showed significant difference (P<0.01) where as M. Latissimus dorsi was heavier in Mesari sub-type. The cattle sub-type had no significant effect on length of selected muscles except for M. Gluteus medius in which Nyallawi had the significantly (P<0.05) longer muscle 32.67 cm versus 24.55 cm for Messari, the length of M. Semimembranosus was 31.41 cm for Messari and 29.75 cm for Nyallawi, Whereas the Muscles width was affected by cattle sub-type for two muscles; M. Semimembranosus in which Messari sub-type had significantly (P<0.01) wider muscle and M. Gastrocnemius was significantly (P<0.05) wider in Nyallawi. The Weight of individual muscle after trimming was affected by the cattle sub-type in two muscles, M. biceps brachii and M. Infraspinatus were significantly heavier (P<0.05) in Nyallawi than Mesari. Fat content of the individual muscles were not affected by cattle sub-type except for M. Rhomboideus and M. gluteus medius where Nyallawi had significant (P<0.05) higher fat content. Mesari cattle sub-type had significantly (P<0.05) higher moisture content in M. Infraspinatus, M. Supraspinatus and M. Semimembranosus. For protein content Nyallawi sub-type had significantly (P<0.01) higher content for M. Infraspinatus, M. Supraspinatus and M. Semimembranosus. Ether extract differed between the selected muscle of the two cattle sub-types bulls for M. biceps femoris and M. Longissimus lumborum in which Messari had the higher ether extract. Ash content of the individual muscles was not affected by cattle sub-type