Abstract

SANZ, A. et al. Productive potential of the bovine breed Serrana de Teruel: Preliminary report. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2011, vol.60, n.231, pp.377-380. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922011000300015.

The carcass quality from three commercial categories (yearling, bull and steer castrated at 9 months old) was studied within the framework of a recovery programme in the Serrana de Teruel breed. Ages at slaughter were 12, 22 and 22 months, and live-weights were 470, 720 and 660 kg, in yearling, bull and steer, respectively. Twenty calves were managed under a conventional feeding programme of ad libitum concentrate and straw from 4 months old to slaughter, except between 15 and 20 months old, in which bulls and steers received ad libitum barley silage as forage supplemented with 3 kg of concentrate/head/day. The gain during the first year of age was 1.5 kg/ day, whereas during the second year it was greater in bulls than in steers (1.1 vs. 0.9 kg/day), as a consequence of castration. Bull carcasses had greater dressing percentages and conformation scores and lower fatness degree than steers, confirming a castration-induced intramuscular fat deposition. Considering these results, Serrana de Teruel breed falls within the group of local Spanish bovine breeds. These studies should provide the conditions for a labelled beef product that allows the farmer's survival and the assurance of Serrana de Teruel breed conservation for a long term.

Keywords : Endangered breeds; Carcass; Beef.

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