CARCASS QUANTITY TRAITS IN CROSSES OF ANGUS, SANTA GERTRUDIS AND GELBVIEH BEEF CATTLE

A total of 333 carcasses were evaluated for hindquarter traits: round weight, percent round, loin weight, percent loin, flank weight and percent flank. Other characteristics included: total retail, lean trim, fat trim, round steaks, rump, sirloin tip, loin steaks, percent loin steaks and flank steaks. Mating types included straightbred Angus and Santa Gertrudis, the reciprocal crosses of these two breeds and Gelbvieh ${\times}$ Angus. Breed of sire and breed of dam were significant for most of the traits evaluated. Calf year and slaughter group were also significant. This could be the result of environmental variations. Effect of sire within sire breed was non-significant for all the traits considered. Heterosis due to interaction between sire breed ${\times}$ dam breed was found significant for percent total retail cuts based on hindquarter weight. Generally, Santa Gertrudis purebreds were more desirable in cut out characteristics than all other breeding types followed by crossbreds of Angus ${\times}$ Santa Gertrudis.