Late-Breaking: Impact of beef genotypes and finishing systems on beef consumer acceptability and the effect of demographic factors on consumer sensory preferences

Abstract Beef genotypes and diets can improve the eating quality and consistency of beef. A 2-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of beef genotypes and diet on consumer acceptability of beef. Steaks were from Red Angus (RA) and RA x Akaushi (AK) crossbreed, fed one of two finishing systems: grazing (GRASS) and feedlot (GRAIN). Consumers (n = 105 in each year) evaluated cooked steaks for flavor, tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptability using a 9-point hedonic scale. Demographical information was collected and used as covariates in the statistical model. There was no difference in sensory attributes (P > 0.05) between the genotypes, except that steaks from AK tended to be juicier than RA (P = 0.06). Sensory attributes were scored better in GRAIN than GRASS beef (P < 0.01) for all variables. There was a genotype by system interaction for flavor (P = 0.02), where beef from RA had a lower flavor rating in GRASS than in GRAIN, and no difference was observed for AK. Demographic effects showed that gender and beef consumption location had significant effects on flavor. Flavor scores were higher for females than males (6.1 vs 5.7, P = 0.02), and higher from consumers who eat beef in restaurants than consumers who do not eat beef in restaurants (6.6 vs 5.3, P < 0.01). Juiciness scores were impacted by the frequency of beef consumption. Panelists who eat beef once every 2–3 weeks rated the steaks juicier than those who eat beef once every 2–3 months (6.5 vs 4.3, P = 0.04), and consumers who eat grass-fed beef twice a year rated the steaks worse than those who eat it less than once a year (P = 0.02). Our results suggest that the beef finishing system had a marked impact on consumer acceptability, and AK might produce meat juicier than RA. Some demographic factors may influence consumer perceptions of beef.