Carcass and meat quality traits of Norwegian (NRF) dual purpose cattle were studied, and genetic parameters between
these traits and growth rate were estimated. Data were recorded on 456 NRF bulls (n = 32 sires), performance tested at test
stations from 1989 to 1991. Both ANOVA and REML were utilised for h2 estimations and gave about the same results.
Carcass related he&abilities were lowest for fleshiness traits (0.05) and highest for length and fatness traits (0.55).
He&abilities for the meat quality traits ultimate pH and colour (Hunter-L* a* b) varied from 0.08 to 0.27, while h* for
intramuscular fat % in musculus latissimus dorsi was estimated to 0.51. Unfavourable genetic correlations were found
between growth rate and various carcass fleshiness traits, and between growth rate and intramuscular fat. High growth rate
was associated with longer carcasses, lower dressing %, poorer fleshiness and a decreased m. 1. dorsi area, combined with a
decline in intramuscular fat content. The rg estimates between growth rate and lightness, redness and yellowness revealed
that selection for daily gain will give correlated responses of lighter, but lower colour intensity meat.