Abstract
Steers and heifers (N=490) were produced between 1991 and 1996 by reciprocal fiillsib backcross and $F_1$ crosses from Angus and Brahman to compare characteristics of carcass and palatability traits between Bos indicus and Bos taurus inheritance. Carcasses of 3/4Angus were heavier, fatter (p<0.05), more tender and higher in other palatability attributes (p<0.01) than those of 3/4Brahman. Reciprocal effects of parental cross breeds were found on some traits. Within 3/4Brahman inheritance group, Brahman sired progeny produced heavier and fatter carcasses with better palatability (p<0.05) than progeny with Brahman as a dam breed. Estimates of heritability were intermediate to high in most carcass and palatability traits. Genetic correlations of tenderness with marbling score (MARB), sarcomere length (SARC), fragmentation index (FRAG) and calpastatin activity (CALP) were moderate to high, suggesting potential use of the tenderness-influencing factors as indirect selection criteria to improve palatability attributes. MARB and SARC that were best predictors of tenderness explained 3.07 to 5.85% and 4.32 to 8.24% of variation in tenderness, respectively. However, there was no tenderness-influencing factor to dominantly explain large portion of variation in tenderness.