MEAT PERFORMANCE OF PUREBRED HEREFORD STEERS OF BELARUSIAN SELECTION

Abstract

The paper presents materials on formation of meat performance in purebred Hereford steers of Belarusian selection. According to slaughter results at the age of 15 months, the slaughter yield of steers of Hereford breed made 52.7-55.1%, the meatiness ratio made 4.274.34, the yield of premium quality beef made 14.5-24.2%. The ratio of dry matter and moisture in meat of slaughtered animals was in the optimal range of 0.43:1-0.73:1. In the middle sample of minced meat of Hereford steers at the age of 15 months, protein level made 20.09-20.75 %, fat - 0.87-1.98%, and the moisture holding capacity of the middle meat sample made 15.5-29.3 %, which allows to reduce the meat mass loss during heat treatment.