The effect of increase of carcass weight on different carcass characteristics of Sudan Baggara cattle

Abstract

The effect of increase of carcass weight on carcass characteristics was investigated. 
Twenty-eight bulls were slaughtered, dressed, divided into quarters and deboned. The data 
collected were stratified according to carcass weight into 3 groups A, Band C. Group A 
120 - 140, group B 100 -119 and group C 80 - 99 kg. The results revealed that the weight 
of the. Forequarters were significantly (P<0.05) heavier than the hind quarters. The values 
of fore and hind quarters were (64.08 - 60.75, 55.00 -54.00 and 46.20 - 44.70 kg) for group 
A, B and C respectively. Muscle weight increased steadly (P>0.05) with the increase of 
carcass weight and fat, bone and connective tissue weights showed the same pattern of 
change with the increase of carcass weight, but no significant (P>0.05) differences were 
observed between groups.  
Muscle: bone ratio was not affected by increase of carcass weight. The values (3.02+0.53, 
3.11 +0.59 and 3.07+0.62) were almost similar for group A, B and C respectively.