PSII-12 Carcass characteristics and revenue of beef x dairy crossbred calves sired by Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, and Simmental.

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare carcass characteristics and revenue of beef x dairy crossbred steers sired by Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, and Simmental bulls. Bull calves (n = 50) were born at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center (Morris) from September 2023 to December 2023. Calves were from Holstein dams and crossbred dams of Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and Holstein, and crossbred dams of Jersey, Normande, and Viking Red. Breed groups were Angus (n = 11), Charolais (n = 11), Hereford (n = 11), Limousin (n = 10) and Simmental (n = 7) crossbred calves. Variables included in the statistical model for analyses were fixed effects of birthweight, hot carcass weight (HCW), sire breed and dam breed. Sire breed groups were not different (P > 0.05) for HCW. Limousin-sired steers had larger (P < 0.05) ribeye area (34.7 cm2) than Charolais-(31.2 cm2), Simmental-(32.8 cm2), and Angus-sired (31.3 cm2) steers. Angus-sired steers had higher (P < 0.05) marbling (616.9) than Charolais-(521.3), Simmental-(547.1), and Limousin-sired (426.9) steers. Hereford-sired steers had higher (P < 0.05) backfat (0.6) than Charolais (0.5), Angus (0.4), and Limousin-sired (0.4) steers. Hereford-sired steers had a higher yield grade (3.1) than Limousin-sired steers (2.4), and were similar to Charolais (2.8), Simmental (2.9), and Angus-sired (2.9) steers. Charolais and Simmental- sired steers had more (P < 0.05) kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (1.8 and 1.9, respectively) than Limousin-sired steers (1.7), but were similar to Angus and Hereford- sired steers (1.82 and 1.81, respectively). Overall, Angus-, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, and Simmental- sired steers were similar (P < 0.05) in total revenue made ($2,721.60, $2,767.80, $2,778.92, $2,650.79, and $2,739.25, respectively). The results from this study found that some breeds groups differed carcass characteristics; however, the differences were subtle and numerous beef sire breeds may be used to breed dairy cattle to bring in similar revenue.