AGE-RELATED CHANGES OF SLAUGHTER INDICATORS OF CHAROLAIS CATTLE

Abstract

When studying age-related changes of slaughter indicators of Charolais breed of bulls some patterns and trends slaughter indicators were determined. With age no only the pre-slaughter live weight of animals increased, but also carcass weight, slaughter weight, yield of carcasses and slaughter yield, weight of internal organs, tongue, meat and bone of the tail, other offal and intracavitary fat. Stomach fat with the highest intensity was postponed till 18 months of age, renal and intestinal - at the age of 2.5 years. Weight of rumen, peck and agitator with age tends to increase, and the weight of abomasum after 12 months of age was almost unchanged. Weight of rumen, peck and agitator relative to the pre-slaughter live weight tends to decrease, which is confirmed by the coefficients of variation of all sections of the stomach in the subsequent age periods relative to the initial (12 months).