THE INFLUENCE OF BEEF BREED BULLS ON LITHUANIAN BLACK-AND-WHITE CATTLE PRODUCTION AND QUALITY

The objective of this study work was to investigate the potential influence of Limuosin and Charolais bulls on Lithuanian Black-and-White cattle meat production and quality. Five groups of bulls, 18-20 per group, were selected. Two bull's offsprings were selected from each breed. It was shown, that the weight at the age of 500-days-old Lithuanian Black-and-White x Charolais crossbred offspring were by 47.0 kg or 10.0% (p<0.001), and Lithuanian Black-and-White x Limousin crossbred by 15.0 kg or 3.2% (p<0.05) higher than Lithuanian Black-and-White pure breed. Lithuanian Black-and-White x Limousin crossbred used by 10 MJ or 12.2% less feed energy and Lithuanian Black-and-White x Charolais crossbreeds by 5 MJ or 6% less feed energy compared to Lithuanian Black-and-White pure breed bulls. The influence of breed to yield of Lithuania Black-and-White crossbreds was different. A carcass yield of Lithuanian Black-and-White x Charolais crossbreeds was by 4.67% (p<0.05), and Lithuanian Black-and-White x Limousin crossbreeds by 0.38% (p<0.05) higher than Lithuanian Black-and-White pure breed cattle. A crossing had a positive influence to soft parts of yield from hip-thig of carcass, where are the most valuable meat by a nutrition position. A carcass yield of Lithuania Black-and-White x Limousin crossbred was by 2.34% and Lithuanian Black-and-White x Charolais crossbred by 3.11% higher compared to Lithuanian Black-and-White cattle. A crossing had significant influence on some indexes of meat. A meat pH of crossbreeds was by 0.94 higher (p<0.05), a colour of meat was darker (p<0.05), a lower water binding capacity, a meat was tender.