The correlation between Longissimus thoracis muscle ageing extent, growth and carcass traits in Simmental bulls: preliminary results

A common practice to improve meat quality is aging under controlled conditions, which results in improved tenderness, a key factor in the consumer acceptance of beef meat. Among other traits, the tenderness and the effect of ageing are also genetically determined. Therefore, a trial was performed to assess the effect of ageing in the progeny of young bulls included in the routine breeding program for Simmental breed in Slovenia. In the trial, 127 young bulls were included, and the shear force of grilled Longissimus thoracis muscle was measured fresh and after three weeks of ageing. There was a significant difference between the fresh and aged muscle in shear force, but growth and other carcass traits did not affect it as it was expected. We assume that after enlarging the number of animals, the data will be usable to be included in the genetic evaluation of the breeding program for Simmental breed in Slovenia.