Effect of floor type on carcass and meat quality of intensively reared Simmental bulls
This study investigated the effect of floor type on carcass and meat quality of intensively reared Simmental bulls. The animals were housed in common pens on a concrete slatted floor (SF group, n=15) or a full floor with straw bedding (FF group, n=15). The space allowance in SF and FF groups was 4.7 and 6.0 m2 per bull, respectively. Diet in both groups was given as total mixture ration composed from maize grain and stalk silage, super-concentrate and hay (average composition per kg: 599 g of DM, 76 g of crude protein and 4.59 MJ of ME as feed). After the slaughter at similar age (494±17 days) and final body weight (597.5±56.4 kg), the carcass traits (hot carcass weight, dressing-out %, EUROP classes distribution) were determined. Meat pH and colour (CIE L*a*b*) was measured at the Longissimus thoracis muscle 24 h post mortem at the level of the 8th rib. The same muscle was sampled for chemical analysis of dry matter, protein, ash, total iron and intramuscular fat content. Data were analyzed by Student’s t-test. In general, there was no significant effect (P>0.05) of floor type on any of carcass or meat quality traits and chemical composition, except for meat pH24 value and ash content, which in SF group shoved respectively lower and higher results than in the FF group: 5.61 vs. 5.68 (P=0.0168) and 10.53 vs. 10.36 g/kg (P=0.0466).