Slaughter Value of Young Polish Black-and-White, White-Backed, Polish Holstein-Friesian and Limousin Bulls Under Semi-Intensive Fattening

The objective of the present study was to compare the slaughter value of young bulls of two breeds included in the genetic resources conservation programme, namely Polish Black-White and White-backed with young Polish Holstein-Friesian (dairy type) and Limousin (beef type) bulls. This is the first study to evaluate the meat performance traits of White-backed cattle in several-centuries history of the breed in Poland. It was determined that populations of White-backed and Polish Black-and-White cattle represent the dual-purpose type desirable in the genetic resources conservation programme. The indices obtained for the analysed traits of slaughter value from young Polish Black-and-White and White-backed bulls were intermediate between Polish Holstein-Friesian (dairy type) and Limousin (beef type), but closer to those of the Polish Holstein-Friesian breed. The analysed muscles of young bulls had a very similar content of basic chemical components. The relatively high amount of proteins (22.85-23.23%) in musculus longissimus lumborum and in musculus semintendinosus (22.43-23.06%) should be emphasized.