Carcass and meat quality of Thai native cattle fattened on Guinea grass (Panicum maxima) or Guinea grass–legume (Stylosanthes guianensis) pastures

Carcass and meat quality of Thai native cattle, fattened for 2 years on Guinea grass (Panicum maxima) and Guinea grass–legume (Stylosanthes guianensis) pastures, were investigated in twelve 3-years old males. Groups had similar carcass quality except for kidney fat percentage (higher in cattle of the grass–legume group). This group also had a lighter meat (Longissimus dorsi, Infraspinatus) than the grass-only fed cattle. Shear force was generally at the borderline to tender meat, and was unaffected by treatment as were other texture-related properties except muscle fibre diameter. Meat of the grass–legume group was perceived less juicy (P < 0.05) but more tender (P < 0.1). The meat of the grass–legume-fed cattle also had more intramuscular fat (4.3% vs. 3.4%) and a slightly less favourable n−6:n−3 fatty acid ratio (2.2 vs. 2.0). In conclusion, the mostly weak differences in carcass and meat quality did not clearly favour one of the grazing systems.