Sire breed effect on beef longissimus mineral concentrations and their relationships with carcass and palatability traits

- No breed of sire or dam effect on iron, zinc, or magnesium concentration in LT
- Zinc was positively correlated with total iron, heme iron, and magnesium in LT.
- No correlation between total iron or zinc and carcass or palatability traits
- Different correlations (opposing sign) for non-heme or heme iron with most traits
- Magnesium was correlated with all carcass and palatability traits.

The objective of this study was to evaluate sire breed effect on mineral concentration in beef longissimus thoracis (LT) and investigate the correlations between beef mineral concentrations and carcass and palatability traits. Steer progeny (N = 246) from the Germplasm Evaluation project-Cycle VIII were used in this study. In addition to carcass traits, LT was evaluated for mineral concentrations, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and palatability traits. A mixed linear model estimated breed effects on mineral concentrations. No significant sire breed (P ≥ 0.43) or dam breed (P ≥ 0.20) effects were identified for mineral concentrations. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated among mineral concentrations, carcass, and sensory traits. Zinc concentration was positively correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with total iron (r = 0.14), heme iron (r = 0.13), and magnesium (r = 0.19). Significant (P < 0.05) correlations were identified between non-heme or heme iron and most traits in this study. Magnesium concentration was correlated with all carcass and palatability traits.