Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing levels of supplementation on body weight components of Nellore cattle grazing in Urochloa brizantha. Twenty-four steers with initial body weight (BW) of 371 ± 14 kg and average age of 26 months were used. Four animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment as a reference and the others were distributed in 4 treatments [0.0% (mineral salt), 0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9% supplement BW]. The slaughter of the experimental group was performed when the animals reached 450 kg and the body weight components were weighed. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression. The increase in supplementation level reduced (p < 0.05) pasture dry matter intake, but did not influence (p > 0.05) on empty body weight (EBW) (380.3 kg) and cold carcass weight (CCW) (247.5 kg). The weights of skin, liver, rumen and fat were not influenced (p > 0.05) by supplementation level. The animals gained, on average, 75.3 kg EBW and 50.7 kg CCW, but the treatments did not influence (p > 0.05) the gains of body weight components. The increasing of energetic-protein supplement level for Nellore steers in Urochloa brizantha pasture does not affect carcass and non-carcass components.
Highlights
Brazilian cattle herd surpasses 200 million head, most Zebu, raised mainly in grazing regime
Silva et al (2009) showed performance trends of cattle supplemented in pastures of Urochloa spp., and pointed out that levels above 0.3% of body weight (BW) may be deleterious to animal performance
The non-carcass components (NCC) represent more than 50% of the cattle empty body weight (Backes, Paulino, Alves, & Valadares Filho, 2010) and are demanded by pet food, pharmaceutical, clothing and chemistry industries (Toldrá, Mora, & Reig, 2016)
Summary
Brazilian cattle herd surpasses 200 million head, most Zebu, raised mainly in grazing regime. In these production systems, the variation in pasture along the year generates seasonality in the weight gain of herds (Ferraz & Felício, 2010). In an extensive review, Silva et al (2009) showed performance trends of cattle supplemented in pastures of Urochloa spp., and pointed out that levels above 0.3% of body weight (BW) may be deleterious to animal performance. Animal performance represents gain of carcass components (muscle, fat and bones) and non-carcass components (NCC) (organs, viscera and slaughter by-products). In 2014, the NCCs contributed with 8.4% of the total exported beef, totaling almost 200,000 tons of giblets which were sent to destinations such as Hong Kong and Angola
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
