Veterinarija ir Zootechnika

The present study aimed to evaluate the meat production potential of the indigenous “Brune de l'Atlas” cattle breed as a contribution to improving local meat production in Algeria. It investigated the slaughter performance, body composition, and carcass traits of 51 “Brune de l'Atlas” bulls from four distinct Algerian ecotypes, aged 16.46±2.94 months, and subjected to a 128.4±97 days fattening period. The assessment focused on key meat production parameters, including live weight, body composition, slaughter yield, conformation, fatness, and carcass fineness. The studied bulls exhibited an average body weight of 366.56±92.56 kg, with interesting true and commercial dressing percentages at 60.11±11.09% and 56.1±10.04%, respectively. The study revealed the production of lean carcasses with a remarkably low proportion of body fat, reflected in remarkably low fat index of 1.48±0.76 and a body fat weight rate of 5.9±3.86%. While carcass conformation and compactness indices were relatively moderate, the findings highlight the promising slaughter performance of the indigenous Algerian cattle population. These results suggest that targeted genetic, nutritional, and management improvements could further elevate the value of their butchering performance, contributing to local meat supply and potentially reducing dependency on meat imports.