Breed had a significant influence on tenderness (p < 0.001) and on the quantity of residue after chewing for panellists (p < 0.01), but there was a significant interaction between breed and ageing time for tenderness. Long ageing times (more than seven days) tend to reduce differences among breeds in textural characteristics. Ageing had a very important effect on tenderness (p < 0.01) and also on some odour and flavour characteristics evaluated by the panel. Taking into account the results obtained in the consumer test, the consumption of the Limousin meat may be recommended at shorter ageing times, meanwhile Blonde d’Aquitaine, Holstein and Old Brown Swiss meats would need a longer ageing period to obtain an optimum acceptance by the consumer.