SLAUGHTER INDICES OF RED STEPPE STEERS AND HOLSTEIN HYBRIDS
The results of comparative analyses of slaughter indices of purebred Red Steppe steers and their hybrids of the 1st and 2nd generations, obtained as result of crossing with Holsteins are submitted in the article. The slaughter indices, the morphological composition of the carcass natural-anatomical parts and the nutritional value of meat of young animals, aged 18 months, have been studied. The positive effect of crossing on the slaughter indices was established. It was shown that the Red Steppe steers were inferior to the Holstein hybrids of the 1st and 2nd generations in body length at 3.97 cm (3.4%) and 3.25 cm (2.8%), in thigh length at 3.10 cm (3.64%) and 4.08 cm (4.8%), the length of the carcass - at 7.07 cm (3.5%) and 7.43 cm (3.7%), and in hip circumference - at 2.84 cm (3.0%) and 1.99 cm (2.1%). The Holstein hybrids overweighed the Red Steppe steers of the same age in the pre-slaughter live weight at 29.84 kg (6.7%, P<0.001) and 28.6 kg (6.5%, P<0.001). Due to the effect of crossing, the Holstein hybrids of the 1st and 2nd generation surpassed the purebred steers of the same age in the morphological structure of the carcass components. The hybrid steers of the 1st generation were characterized by the highest beef performance indices.