Abstract:
Steers reared in a beef cattle crossbreeding experiment carried out in two ranches in central Tanzania
were slaughtered at an average age slightly above four years. The genetic groups represented were
purebred Boran and crosses out of Boran cows mated to bulls of 12 exotic breeds.· The steers were
weighed prior to slaughter, and th,e carcasses were weighed and measured. A joint of the tenth rib was
dissected into lean, fat and bone, and each fraction weighed. Various fractions of internal organs were
also recorded separately. Crossbred steers yielded on average about 14 percent heavier carcasses
than pure Boran. Among the crosses no significant differences in carcass weight according to breed of
sire were observed. The heaviest carcasses were from steers·sired by Chianina bulls. Carcasses of
Boran steers were shorter-and had more fat and slightly less bone on the 1 rfh rib joint than carcasses
o/crosses. Steers sired by British beef or Simmental bulls were fatter than steers by Limousin or
Piedmont bulls. Piedmont crosses were the lowest in both subcutaneous (loth rib)'and internal (heart
and kidney) jat, and had the highest amount of lean in the 1rfh rib)oint. Research on beef
crossbreeding in Tanzania should be directed more towards -Viability and reproductive performance
rather than carcass quality.
