, DM x N cattle have 1-3% higher dressing percentage, about 3-10% more lean meat (%muscle or meat yield) and 13% less fat (%fat) relative to N x N cattle. The magnitude of these differences is maintained when assessed at the same carcase weight. Meat from DM x N carcasses is more tender than that from N x N carcases, in relation to both overall tenderness (shear force) and tenderness due to reduction in meat toughness from connective tissue (adhesion force).