EFFECTS OF AGE ON PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND MEAT QUALITY OF XIANGXI CATTLE.

Current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of age on production performance and meat quality of Xiangxi cattle. A total of 12 male weaning Xiangxi cattle (similar age and weight) were used in the current experiment. Animals were slaughtered at the age of six, eight and thirty months. Results showed that animals slaughtered at 30 months of age had the highest production performance and carcass traits (p < 0.05). The longissimus dorsi (LD) of the animals slaughtered at 6-month-age had a lower cooking loss and higher water content (p < 0.05). The LD of the animals slaughtered at 30-month-had significantly higher nutrient composition, total essential amino acid (EAA) composition and EAA/total amino acid percentage, C16 and saturated fatty acid (SFA) contents (p < 0.05). Moreover, higher C20, C17:1, monounsaturated FA, C18:3n-3, polyunsaturated FA, total FA contents and unsaturated fatty acid to saturated fatty acid ratio (p < 0.05) was observed in the LD muscle of cattle slaughtered at 18 months of age. Based on results, it is concluded that age significantly influenced the production performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and meat nutrient composition in Xiangxi cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]