Carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nellore bulls submitted to different nutritional strategies during cow–calf and stocker phase

Abstract

There have been few studies realized that evaluate the effects of adoptingdifferent nutritional systems in more than one phase of cattle production oncarcass and meat characteristics. This study was realized to evaluate carcassand meat characteristics from bulls submitted to different nutritional systemsduring two production phases. The experiment was conducted atFigueira’s farm during two production phases: I (cow–calf)– 80 calves (99.6±2.72 days of age and109.7±2.99 kg of BW) with their mothers were randomly assigned intotwo supplemental diets: cow–calf mineral supplement(n=40) or cow–calf creep-feeding(n=40); II (stocker) – the same 80calves (201.2±2.11 days of age and 190.2±3.37 kg of BW)were redistributed into two production systems: stocker pasture(n=40) or stocker feedlot (SF;n=40). After, all 80 animals were kept on a pasturesystem (III) for 290 days, and then finished in a feedlot system (IV) for more33 days. Then, they were slaughtered at an average 764.2±3.06 days ofage and at 499.2±3.33 kg of final BW. After slaughter, the averagedaily gain was calculated, and the carcass and meat characteristics weremeasured. The statistical model design used was completely randomized in a2×2 factorial arrangement (two treatment groups oncow–calf phase and two treatment groups on stocker phase). The singleeffects between the groups in each phase and the interactions between bothphases (cow–calf v. stocker) were analyzed. Theresults were compared by Fisher’s test, using the R statisticalsoftware. A cow–calf by stocker phases interaction occurred forcarcass conformation and fiber diameter. For single effects, the greatestinfluences observed were in the stocker phase. The feedlot group was slaughtered17 days earlier, with greater final BW (3.8%), hot carcass weight(5.7%), average daily gain (6.9%), dressing percentage(1.8%), carcass length (1.8%), carcass width(1.5%), longissimus muscle area (4.8%)and muscle depth (2.3%) than pasture group. The SF group also hadinfluence on fat color; showing higher L* and lowerb* values. These results reveal that bullsreared in feedlot at the stocker phase have higher muscle development and thatthe stocker phase has the greatest potential to influence carcasscharacteristics and meat quality.