Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of different nutritional strategies in growing and finishing phases on the carcass morphometry of 24 crossbred steers, ½ Holstein/Zebu, slaughtered at 15 months of age and 395.0kg live weight. In the growing phase, animals were maintained grazing on Brachiaria brizantha, receiving two levels of energy supplementation in quantities equivalent to 0.5 or 1.0% live weight. Then, animals were finished in feedlot receiving diets composed of 50 or 80% concentrate. The percentage of primary cuts was not influenced by feed levels in the growing and finish phases. The high supplementation level in the growing phase resulted in a higher (p < 0.05) carcass length (134.48 vs. 131.43 cm). The food levels did not influence the conformation of the carcasses, however the highest level in the growing and finishing phases resulted in a higher (p < 0.05) cushion thickness (23.46 vs 21.26 cm). It was found a significant interaction between feeding levels in the different phases for the leg length and arm perimeter with increase of 14.78 and 4.80%, respectively for animals given high energy levels in both phases. The high feeding level in the growing phase was more attractive owing the positive effects on some important measures of carcass, especially in the length.
Highlights
The State of Goiás has the fourth largest herd of dairy cattle in the country (IBGE, 2012) and it is estimated that about 5 million male calves from the dairy herd are born every year, usually of Holstein/Gir crossbred
When these animals remain on the farms, they are generally raised under poor feed, which leads to mortality rates of approximately 20% and results in slow development, affecting carcass production
The reduction in the slaughter age is related to a production system of technical and biological efficiency based on the composition of weight gain of young animals during the growth phase (RESTLE et al, 1999)
Summary
The State of Goiás has the fourth largest herd of dairy cattle in the country (IBGE, 2012) and it is estimated that about 5 million male calves from the dairy herd are born every year, usually of Holstein/Gir crossbred. Many of the 7.5 million male calves from the dairy herds born every year in Brazil (ANUALPEC, 2012) are slaughtered in the first few days of life or sold for irrelevant prices When these animals remain on the farms, they are generally raised under poor feed, which leads to mortality rates of approximately 20% and results in slow development, affecting carcass production. The reduction in the slaughter age is related to a production system of technical and biological efficiency based on the composition of weight gain of young animals during the growth phase (RESTLE et al, 1999). This study evaluated the effects of different feeding plans on the carcass morphometry of crossbred dairy cattle according to the levels of energy ingestion during the growing and finishing phases
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