The effect of different grazing heights on carcass and meat quality characteristics of Nellore cattle fattened in pastures of Convert grass.

Abstract

Carcass characteristic and meat quality from bulls and Nellore steers (n = 64 total) subjected to different grazing heights (15, 25, 35, and 45cm) were evaluated isolatedly, under continuous grazing and variable load, in pastures of Convert grass. The experimental period was from May 2015 to June 2017, in an area of 16ha, divided into 16 paddocks of 1ha. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications. Each paddock was grazed by three animals and regulators, used to adjust grazing heights. The final slaughter weight, hot carcass, and crude protein in the meat of steers were higher when the pastures were managed at 42cm. When the pasture was managed between 25 and 35cm in height, greater fat thickness, marbling, muscle:bone and muscle+fat:bone ratio and lower color* of the meat and percentage of bone were found. For the steers, the height of 40cm provided higher fat thickness and marbling in the meat. The loss during thawing in meat was greater at 28cm in height. The heights of grazing alter the carcass characteristics and meat of bulls and steers.