Hot Carcass Yield Research Articles

Glicerina bruta no suplemento e seus efeitos nas características da carcaça e nos componentes do peso vivo de cordeiros lactentes

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da porcentagem de glicerina bruta em suplementos sobre as características da carcaça e os componentes do peso vivo de cordeiros lactentes mantidos em pasto de azevém. Foram utilizados 32 cordeiros lactentes, distribuídos nos tratamentos: 0, 10, 20 e 30% de glicerina bruta na matéria seca, em substituição ao milho, no suplemento isoproteico (18% de PB na matéria seca) fornecido diariamente em quantidade equivalente a 2% do peso corporal. As porcentagens de glicerina bruta tiveram efeito linear decrescente sobre peso de carcaça quente, peso de carcaça fria, rendimento de carcaça quente e rendimento de carcaça fria, enquanto as perdas pelo jejum aumentaram. O peso da paleta e o peso do costilhar diminuíram, enquanto a proporção de perna aumentou com o incremento de glicerina bruta no suplemento. Na composição tecidual da paleta, observou-se que a gordura subcutânea, a gordura intermuscular e a gordura total da paleta decresceram linearmente segundo as porcentagens de glicerina bruta. Sobre os componentes do peso vivo, observaram-se diferenças nas proporções de pele, rúmen, omaso, intestino grosso, que aumentaram, enquanto a de gordura renal diminuiu linearmente. Conclui-se que o uso de glicerina bruta em até 30% em suplemento fornecido em comedouro privativo para cordeiros lactentes mantidos em pasto de azevém interfere nas características da carcaça e nos componentes corporais.

Engorda de corderos Pelibuey con diferente nivel de alfalfa en la dieta

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to lambs on animal performance, during a period of 11 weeks. Thirty-six, 5 months old, Pelibuey male lambs were used indoors, with initial live weight of 22.0 kg. They were distributed homogeneously into four groups of three each, with three replicates per group, and then randomly assigned to each of the following treatments: diet with 0, 20, 30 and 40 % (dry basis) of alfalfa. Dry matter intake (DMI), daily gain weight (DGW), feeding conversion (FC) and efficiency (FE), hot and cold carcass yield, biological hot and cold carcass yield, and carcass pH at slauthering and 24h post mortem, and digestibility in situ of the diet, were evaluated. A completely randomized design using Proc GLM was used; mean comparison was done using the Tukey test. There were not significant differences (p>0.05) between treatments on animal performance, except on dry matter intake, which increased (p<0.05) from 1.2 to 1.4 kg DM per animal when increasing alfalfa level from 20 to 40 %, even though diets including alfalfa had less digestibility compared to the control one. DGW, FC and FE, averaged 271 g animal-1 day-1, 4.74 and 0.212, respectively. The average for hot and cold carcass yield, were 54.4 % and 53.0 %, respectively. Including alfalfa in the lamb diet, offers no benefits on animal performance; however, including up to 40 % of alfalfa, could be a viable feeding strategy, and from the economical point of view could be attractive to the farmer, besides, it increases dry matter intake.

Características da carcaça e dos componentes não-carcaça de ovinos alimentados com dietas contendo casca de mamona

Objetivou-se avaliar a influência de quatro níveis de substituição (0; 33; 67 e 100) do feno de capim-tifton 85 (FT) pela casca de mamona (CM) em rações sobre as características quantitativas da carcaça e dos componentes não-carcaça de ovinos mestiços de Morada Nova, com peso corporal médio de 20,3kg e idade média de 6,5 meses num delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco repetições. Foram avaliados o peso, o rendimento, a composição regional das carcaças e os componentes não-carcaças. Observou-se efeito linear decrescente dos níveis de substituição do FT pela CM sobre o peso corporal, peso corporal ao abate em jejum, peso do corpo vazio, peso de carcaça quente e fria, assim como os rendimentos de carcaças quente e fria. Os níveis de substituição do FT pela CM apresentaram influência negativa sobre o peso dos cortes à medida que se adicionou CM na dieta dos animais, enquanto a área de olho-de-lombo e a espessura de gordura subcutânea não apresentaram efeito. O rendimento do lombo posterior foi influenciado de forma linear decrescente pelos níveis de substituição do FT pela CM, enquanto os rendimentos das demais regiões não apresentaram efeito dos níveis de substituição. Observou-se efeito dos níveis de substituição do FT pela CM para maioria dos componentes não-carcaça, com exceção da vesícula biliar, bexiga, nódulos, abomaso, intestino delgado e gordura do coração. A casca de mamona acima de 33% em substituição ao feno de tifton-85 na dieta para ovinos influencia negativamente as características das carcaças e os componentes não-carcaça.

Genotype effect on carcass and meat quality of lambs finished in irrigated pastures in the semiarid Northeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to compare four genetic groups of sheep on the carcass and meat quality traits. Thirty-three contemporary and unrelated male lambs, all of single birth were used in the experiment, being thirteen from the Santa Inês (SI) breed, seven from the Brazilian Somali breed (BS), six from the Morada Nova (MN) breed and seven from the ½ Dorper - ½ Morada Nova (F1) crossbreed. The genotypes SI, BS and F1 presented similar performances in relation to hot and cold carcass weights, which values were 10.76±0.53kg and 10.46±0.52kg for SI, 9.20±0.73kg and 8.99±0.71kg for BS, and 9.35±0.73kg and 9.13±0.71kg for F1, respectively. The BS had a better hot carcass yield (47.10±0.88%) and cold carcass yield (46.00±0.87%). Better carcass conformation was observed in SI and F1 (2.73±0.12 and 2.50±0.17, respectively) while the BS presented a better finishing (3.29±0.20). The average for the rib eye area (REA) was 9.94±0.49cm², 8.66±0.67cm², 7.18±0.72cm² and 9.8±0.67cm², and for the carcass compactness index (CCI) it was 0.17±0.01kg/cm, 0.17±0.01kg/cm, 0.11±0.01kg/cm and 0.16±0,01kg/cm, for SI, SB, MN and F1, respectively. There were no significant differences between SI, BS and F1 regarding REA and CCI. Although, in general, the MN presented a relatively lower performance than the other genotypes, this breed had similar carcass yields and fat thickness when compared to SI and F1 and similar conformation and REA in comparison to the BS. Regarding meat quality, no differences were observed between genotypes, except for redness and cooking losses. It is concluded that no one group had a higher or lower performance in all traits analyzed. Moreover, for the management conditions employed in this study, there was evidence of greater specialization in meat production for genotypes SI, BS and F1 when compared to MN, although there are no substantial differences between the four groups regarding meat quality.

CARACTERÍSTICAS DE CARCAÇA E RECEITA INDUSTRIAL COM CORTES PRIMÁRIOS DA CARCAÇA DE MACHOS NELORE ABATIDOS COM DIFERENTES PESOS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the commercial cuts income and to study the carcass characteristics of non-castrated Nellore males slaughtered at different weights. Forty Nellore males with initial average weight of 350 kg were used. The animals were divided into four groups: animals with 0 and two teeth, with carcass weight up to238,0 kg (young and light carcass); 2-teeth animals with carcass weight ranging from 238,1 to 258,0 kg (young and medium carcass); 2-teeth animals with carcass weight above 258 kg (young and heavy carcass) and animals with four or six teeth, regardless of carcass weight (adults). After 84 days of feedlot, the animals were slaughtered in a commercial abattoir. There was no difference for carcass fat characteristics and meat marbling, as well as for commercial cuts percentages, hot carcass weight and yield. Income analysis showed that, depending on the wholesale price differences of the primary cuts of the carcass, studies on cattle breeding should seek to increase the conformation and hindquarter percentage, provided they meet the minimum finishing degree required by the abattoirs. KEYWORDS: commercial cuts; fatness level; industrial break-even point; non-castrated males; slaughter weight.

Effect of inoculated or ammoniated high-moisture ear corn on finishing performance of steers

We investigated the effects of inoculated or ammoniated high-moisture ear corn (HMEC) on fermentation characteristics of silages, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and finishing performance of steers. The HMEC was ensiled in both mini silos and press bags. The following treatments were compared: (1) Uninoculated HMEC (CO); (2) Homolactic bacterial inoculated HMEC (HOBI; Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium 0.91×105cfu/g of fresh HMEC); (3) Heterolactic bacterial inoculated HMEC (HEBI; Lactobacillus buchneri 1.0×105cfu/g of fresh HMEC); (4) Ammonia treated HMEC (AMMO; aqueous solution of NH4OH, 295g/kg NH3, 0.90kg/L was applied at 16g/kg of fresh HMEC). For the finishing trial, 36 steers were fed HMEC-based diets over 142 days according to an incomplete block design. Four additional steers were used in a 4×4 Latin Square design to measure the nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance of diets. The AMMO silage was highest in pH, ammonia, and soluble carbohydrates compared with CO, HOBI and HEBI silages. Digestibility of DM, OM, aNDF, ADF, and starch were not different (P>0.15) among treatments. Nitrogen retention was also not affected (P>0.20) by treatments. No impact (P>0.15) on body weight gain, gain to feed ratio, hot carcass weight, carcass yield and carcass grading of steers was observed during the finishing phase. In conclusion, inoculation of HMEC with homo- or hetero lactic bacteria or aqueous ammonia resulted in marginal changes in fermentation characteristics leading to similar diet digestibility and comparable performance during the finishing phase of steers.

Performance of finishing steers fed different sources of carbohydrates

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbohydrate sources (corn, soybean hulls or wheat bran) in the diet on performance of feedlot steers in the finishing phase. Twenty-four Charolais × Nellore crossbred steers, aged 22 months and initial weight of 335.0±10.9 kg were used in the experiment. Diets contained 40% sorghum silage and 60% concentrate. The intakes of dry matter (DM; 10.68, 10.16 and 10.34 kg/day) and crude protein (1.66, 1.70 and 1.72 kg/day) were not affected by diets with corn, soybean hulls or wheat bran, respectively. The intakes of neutral and acid detergent fiber were higher for soybean hulls, but the diet containing corn provided higher intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates, total digestible nutrients and digestible energy. Weight gain was higher and better feed conversion for animals fed corn (1.57 kg/day, 6.85 kg DM/kg gain) or soybean hulls (1.58 kg/day and 6.61 kg DM/kg gain) compared with steers receiving wheat bran (1.29 kg/day and 8.14 kg DM/kg gain) in the diet. There was no significant effect of carbohydrate sources on the final body score (3.78 points), energy conversion (28.25 Mcal digestible energy/kg gain), hot carcass yield (57.63 kg/100 kg BW) and fat thickness (3.1 mm). From an economic point of view, soybean hulls can be an alternative source of carbohydrate to corn in diets of finishing steers with 60% concentrate.

Comparison of broiler live performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid composition of thigh meat when fed diets supplemented with neutralized sunflower soapstock or soybean oil

SUMMARY Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of adding neutralized sunflower soapstock (NSS) or soybean oil (SO) to the broiler diet. In experiment 1, one hundred five 15-d-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were used to evaluate the AMEn of NSS by the difference method. In experiment 2, a completely randomized design was used to evaluate the effects of fat source and level on broiler live performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid composition of thigh meat. A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with 2 types of fat (NSS and SO) at 3 levels of inclusion (2, 4, and 6%) was used with 5 replicates per treatment using total of 750 birds. The average AMEn of the NSS was determined as 8,530 kcal/kg. Performance of birds was unaffected by the dietary fat sources. Increasing the fat level from 2 to 6% improved the overall BW gain (P < 0.0001) and FCR (P < 0.001) of broilers, whereas feed intake was unaffected by different fat levels. Hot carcass yield and rib cage weight were higher for SO-fed birds than NSS-fed birds (P < 0.05). Wings and rib cage weights were higher in birds fed the 6% fat diet (P < 0.05). Leg quarter yield decreased with increased levels of fat inclusion (P < 0.01), whereas breast yield increased (P < 0.05). Dietary fat type modified fatty acids of thigh meat, resulting in significantly higher content of C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:1, sum of saturated fatty acids, and sum of monounsaturated fatty acids in birds fed NSS diets, whereas C18:2, C18:3, C20:0, and sum of polyunsaturated fatty acid contents decreased with NSS inclusion (P < 0.05). Saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids significantly decreased and polyunsaturated fatty acids increased when dietary fat level increased (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, NSS can be included in broiler diets without any major differences in live performance by modifying the fatty acid profile of meat.

Effect of breed and feeding on the carcass characteristics of the Chilote breed lamb

The Chilote sheep has been developed in an isolated environment, based on grazing lands with low nutritive value belonging to small-scale producers, because of which there is little information about the use of this breed for meat production. The objective of this work was to determine the effects on lamb carcasses of two breeds with different productive purposes and fed on pastures with different nutritional quality. Three groups of lambs were used. The first and second groups were composed of 13 and 11 Chilote lambs respectively, and the third composed of six Suffolk Down lambs. Lambs remained with their mothers, the first group on naturalized pasture and the rest on rangeland. Animals were slaughtered at 90 d of age. Live weight, carcass weight and yield, and several zoometric parameters were determined, as well as the weight of commercial cuts and the muscle, bone and fat ratios. Hide and hoof weights were also measured. For the effect of breed, Chilote lamb is narrower (P ≤ 0.05) than Suffolk Down, but with a higher proportion of hide (P ≤ 0.05) and hooves (P ≤ 0.05). The type of pasture only affected hot carcass yield, which was higher in Chilote lamb with naturalized pasture than with rangeland (P ≤ 0.05). There were no effects of breed or pasture type on the main characteristics of the lamb carcasses.

Características de carcaça e de não componentes da carcaça de cordeiros suplementados com sal forrageiro de Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walq

O presente experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a porcentagem de inclusão da espécie forrageira Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walq na confecção do sal forrageiro de gliricídia, por meio de características de carcaça e de não componentes da carcaça de cordeiros. Foram utilizados 30 cordeiros mestiços da raça Santa Inês, não castrados, com aproximadamente 180 dias de idade, peso vivo médio de 25kg, confinados, num delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições, em que os tratamentos foram constituídos de zero (100% de NaCl), 93, 95, 97 e 99% de inclusão de feno de gliricídia (7, 5, 3 e 1% de NaCl na formulação do sal forrageiro, respectivamente). A suplementação com sal forrageiro de gliricídia não afetou (P&gt;0,05) o peso vivo ao abate em jejum (28,39kg), peso de carcaça quente (9,76kg), rendimento de carcaça quente (34,12%), o peso de carcaça fria (9,42kg), o rendimento de carcaça fria (32,95%), as perdas de peso por resfriamento (3,40%), assim como o peso de vísceras brancas (2,19kg) e o peso de vísceras vermelhas (1,29kg). Porcentagem de inclusão de até 99% de gliricídia na confecção de sal forrageiro não altera (P&gt;0,05) as características de carcaça e de não componentes da carcaça de cordeiros.

Castor beans hulls as a replacement for Tifton 85 hay in lamb diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacing Tifton 85 hay (0, 33, 66, or 100 %) with by castor bean hulls on the intake and nutrient digestibility and performance of 28 noncastrated lambs, averaging 7 months in age, 19.5 ± 2.0 kg average live weight, fed on diets based on forage cactus. The animals were housed in individual pens for 100 days. The digestibility trial occurred 40 days after the start of the performance using LIPE® as an external indicator for estimating fecal dry matter production. The replacement of hay with Castor beans hulls linearly decreased the intakes of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, organic matter, and crude protein and reduced the digestibility coefficients of the dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, organic matter content, crude protein, and total digestible nutrient content. The hot carcass and true carcass yields were not influenced by the treatments and the feed conversion increased linearly. The empty body weight, live weight at slaughter, hot and cold carcass weights, total gain, and average daily gain decreased linearly with the replacement. The replacement of Tifton 85 hay with castor bean hulls reduced the intake of dry matter, crude protein and energy, consequently reducing the performance of the animals. However, as the regression coefficients were of low magnitude, data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared using the Dunnett test with diet without castor bean hulls set as the control treatment. The Tifton 85 hay can be replaced up to 66 % by castor bean hulls in finishing diets for lambs.

FARELO DO MESOCARPO DE BABAÇU NA TERMINAÇÃO DE TOURINHOS: CARACTERÍSTICAS DA CARCAÇA E CORTES SECUNDÁRIOS DO TRASEIRO ESPECIAL

We evaluated carcass characteristics, weight and percentage of prepared commercial cuts of the primal pistol cut (PC) of 30 young crossbred bulls fed diets which included replacement levels (0, 25, 50, 70 and 100% of the dry matter, DM) of corn by babassu mesocarp bran (BMB). The experiment was a completely randomized design with six replicates. Slaughter weight was not affected by treatments. Hot and cold carcass weights decreased linearly (P<.05) at 230 g and 250 g, respectively, for each 1 kg of replacement, and hot carcass yield (HC) decreased by 3.2 g/kg of HC for each 1 kg of DM of BMB in the diet (P<0.05). Subcutaneous fat thickness presented a quadratic (P<.05) response with maximum point estimated by the regression equation of 4.29 mm with 33.3% substitution. The proportion of PC of the carcass increased linearly as levels of BMB in the diet increased (P<.05). The percentage of side cut showed a quadratic response (P<.05), with maximum point estimated with 33.3% substitution. The weight of the prepared commercial cuts of the PC, striploin, knuckle and eye round, and the percentage of tenderloin, topside and shank, were influenced by the diet (P<0.05). There was no change in prepared meat cuts yields of PC (73.22%) (P<.05). The use of babassu mesocarp bran to replace corn in cattle finishing diets does not affect the weight and meat yield of the pistol cut, but decreases linearly hot carcass weight, and subcutaneous fat thickness at replacement levels above 33.3%. KEYWORDS: biofuel; by-products; carcass yield; feedlot; meat yield; tenderloin.

Association of polymorphisms in the leptin and thyroglobulin genes with meat quality and carcass traits in beef cattle

The objective of the present study was to estimate the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the polymorphisms E2FB (AY138588.1: c.305C> T), located in the leptin gene (LEP), and TG5 (X05380.1:g.-422C>T), located in the thyroglobulin gene (TG), and evaluate the association of these polymorphisms in crossbred cattle of seven distinct genetic groups with the following traits: slaughter weight (SW), hot carcass weight (HCW), hot carcass yield (HCY), carcass fat thickness (CFT), ribeye area (REA), marbling (MARM) and shear force (SF). The animals were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP (Polymorphism Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) technique, using 201 products obtained from F1 Caracu × Nellore, Angus × Nellore and Valdostana × Nellore cows, mated to Canchim, Caracu and Red Angus bulls (only Caracu × Nellore cows were used with Red Angus bulls). The allelic and genotypic frequencies were compared using the Chi-squared test. Associations between the genotype of each polymorphism and the traits were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM) of statistical software SAS. The least squares means of genotypes of the polymorphisms were compared using Student's t test. The E2FB polymorphism in the LEP gene was associated with CFT, showing the potential for use in national programs for genetic improvement of beef cattle, through the inclusion of SNP in genotyping commercial tests. The TG5 polymorphism in the TG gene was not associated with any of the evaluated traits and was considered ineffective for selection of beef cattle in Brazilian herds.

Effect of malate form (acid or disodium/calcium salt) supplementation on performance, ruminal parameters and blood metabolites of feedlot cattle

Heifers, 108, housed in 18 pens of 6/pen were used in a 141d feedlot study. Six pens were randomly assigned to each of the following experimental diets: CON: control (no additive); MA: CON plus 1.08kg/t of malic acid (0.98g of malate/g product); and MAL: CON plus 2kg/t of disodium/calcium malate (0.53g of malate/g product). Both additives provided 1.1g of malate/kg of concentrate (as mixed). Concentrate dry matter (DM) intake (kg/pen) and individual animal body weights (BW) were determined every 28d. At 0, 84 and 141d, ruminal fluid was obtained by ruminocentesis and blood samples were collected via tail venipuncture from 2 heifers/pen (12/diet). At slaughter, individual carcass weights were measured and carcass yield was determined. An in vitro study was also conducted to analyse ruminal fermentation of the 3 experimental diets. Batch cultures were inoculated with ruminal fluid from CON heifers incubated for 17h at 39°C, and main fermentation parameters were determined (i.e., pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and CH4 production, ammonia–N and lactate concentrations, and diet degradability). There were no differences among groups in BW, concentrate DM intake or BW gain at any time during the experiment. At slaughter, there were no differences in hot carcass weight and yield or carcass classification among groups. There were no effects of treatments on ruminal parameters (i.e., pH and concentrations of VFA and lactate), with the exception of NH3–N concentrations, which were higher (P<0.05) for MAL compared with CON and MA groups at 84d of sampling. Blood metabolites (i.e., glucose, urea–N, lactate) were unaffected by treatments. In the in vitro study, there were no differences among diets in any parameter measured. Under the conditions of this study, supplementation with MA or MAL had no effect on animal performance, ruminal parameters or blood metabolites, and results did not depend on whether malate was administered as the free acid or as the disodium–calcium salt.

The effects of propolis and vitamin C supplemented feed on performance, nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics in broilers exposed to lead

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin C and propolis supplemented diets on nutrient utilization, carcass characteristics and performance in broilers exposed to oxidative stress by lead administration. 360 three-days-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly divided into four treatment groups each containing 90 animals, including six replicate groups for each treatment. The experimental groups were designed for a 3–42 days period as follows: no supplement to basal ration (Control; group I); supplement of 500ppm vitamin C and 200ppm lead (as lead acetate) to basal ration (Vitamin C+Pb; group II); supplement of 1g/kg propolis and 200ppm lead (as lead acetate) to basal ration (Propolis+Pb; group III); and supplement of 200ppm lead (as lead acetate) to basal ration (Pb; group IV). Feed intake was reduced with lead inclusion in the diet (P<0.05). The presence of lead in the diet reduced the body weight gain (BWG) but vitamin C or propolis supplementation improved the BWG in comparison to lead administered group at 3–42 days (P<0.01). Feed conversion ratio of control, vitamin C+lead, and propolis+lead groups improved (P<0.05) in comparison to lead administrated group from 29 to 35 days. Utilization of crude protein improved with both vitamin C and propolis supplementation in comparison to the lead administrated group (P<0.05). Hot and cold carcass, leg and breast yields were higher (P<0.05) for the control than for the lead added groups (P<0.05). Except to breast yield, other carcass characteristics in the control group were similar with those of the vitamin C or propolis supplemented groups. The results suggested that lead inclusion in diet of birds had negative effects on the performance while propolis supplements improved the growth, nutrient utilization and carcass yield.

Case report

A total of 202 Angus steers with an average body weight (BW) of 678ñ73 lb (308ñ33.2 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of undifferentiated bovine respiratory disease (BRD) on feedlot performance and carcass quality in cattle marketed at a common yield grade end-point. Calves were fed in a single pen in a commercial feedyard. Individual weights were collected on arrival, at 75 days on feed, and immediately prior to shipment at time of harvest. Cattle were harvested in three different groups based on day 75 BW and ultrasound evaluation: 122, 156, or 178 days on feed. Cattle treated two or more times weighed less upon feedlot arrival, had greater mortality, lower average daily gain (ADG), lower day 75 BW, and less external fat deposition on day 75 than cattle not requiring treatment for BRD (P less than 0.05). Overall ADG was lower for cattle requiring either one or two or more treatments compared to cattle requiring no treatments; however, ADG from day 75 through harvest was similar among cattle requiring zero, one, and two or more treatments. There was no effect of BRD treatment on hot carcass weight, carcass quality, or yield grade (P less than 0.05). Lengthening the feeding period to attain a comparable body composition for cattle that were treated for BRD, compared to cattle never treated for BRD, resulted in similar quality grades.

Carcass and meat characteristics of crossbred steers submitted to different nutritional strategies at growing and finishing phases

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different nutritional strategies at growing and finishing phases on carcass and meat characteristics from 24 crossbred steers predominatly Holstein, slaughtered at 15 months of age and with 395.00kg of body weight. At the growing phase, the animals were maintained on Brachiaria brizantha pasture with two levels of supplementation in amounts equivalent to 0.5 or 1.0% of body weight. Subsequently, the animals were finished in feedlot with diets composed of 50 or 80% of concentrate. The high level of the concentrate at the finishing phase increased significantly (P&lt;0.05) the hot carcass yield (50.16 vs. 48.62%). The lowest level of supplementation at the growing phase resulted in higher (P&lt;0.05) percentage of carcass fat (25.61 vs. 23.39%) but it did not influence the percentage of muscle and bone. The high level of supplementation at the growing phase provided higher (p&lt;0.05) meat tenderness, required less shear force (4.72 vs. 6.66kg cm-3) and lighter red meat (3.88 vs 2.89 points). The high feeding level during the growing phase was more interesting because it affected positively some important carcass and meat characteristics, especially tenderness.

Use of macaúba cake replacing corn on carcass characteristics and body measurements of Santa Inês lambs

This experiment evaluated the effect of adding macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) cake replacing corn on body measurements and carcass characteristics of Santa Ines lambs. Twenty four 5-month-old uncastrated male lambs were tested using a randomized blocks design. Lambs were distributed into four experimental groups, receiving diets with 0, 100, 200 and 300 g/kg of macauba cake. After 60 days in feedlot, measurements of body length, thoracic perimeter, height at the anterior and rump height were taken. The lambs were slaughtered, skinned and eviscerated. Carcass were weighed hot and chilled at 2 oC during 24 h. Cooling losses, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, hot carcass yield, cold carcass yield, half carcass weight, fat thickness, final weight, slaughter weight, empty body weight, thorax depth, croup width, perimeter of the croup, carcass length, internal carcass length, hindlimb length, hindlimb width and hindlimb conformation score were evaluated. Only hindlimb width was inversely correlated to adding macauba cake in the diet. Macauba cake can be included in diets for lamb in feedlot up to 300 g/kg without affecting body measurements in vivo or carcass characteristics.

Desempenho produtivo e características de carcaça de ovinos em confinamento alimentados com rações contendo torta de mamona destoxificada em substituição ao farelo de soja

Objetivou-se avaliar a influência de quatro níveis de substituição (0; 33; 67 e 100%) do farelo de soja pela torta de mamona destoxificada em rações sobre o desempenho produtivo e as características de carcaça de ovinos mestiços de Morada Nova. Utilizaram-se 20 machos não-castrados, com peso vivo médio de 18,7 kg, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso com cinco repetições. Foram avaliados o desempenho, o peso, o rendimento e a composição regional das carcaças. A substituição do farelo de soja pela torta de mamona destoxificada não teve efeito sobre o peso vivo ao abate e o ganho de peso total durante o confinamento, entretanto teve efeito linear decrescente sobre o ganho médio diário e a conversão alimentar dos animais. Não foi observado efeito dos níveis de substituição do farelo de soja pela torta de mamona destoxificada sobre o peso vivo final, o peso vivo ao abate em jejum, o peso corporal vazio, o peso da carcaça quente e o peso da carcaça fria. O rendimento de carcaça quente foi afetado pelos níveis de substituição do farelo de soja pela torta de mamona, mesmo comportamento observado para o rendimento de carcaça fria. O peso da costela e os rendimentos da costela e da paleta também foram influenciados pelos níveis de substituição do farelo de soja pela torta de mamona destoxificada. O peso e o rendimento das demais regiões, no entanto, não apresentaram diferenças entre níveis de substituição. A torta de mamona destoxificada pode ser utilizada em níveis de até 67% de substituição ao farelo de soja em dietas para ovinos.

Carcass quality of crossbred steers with different degrees of zebu blood in the genotype: meta-analysis

In order to evaluate the effect of the different percentages of zebu blood in the genotype of crossbred steers on carcass traits, a meta-analysis was carried out, using 30 studies conducted in Brazil that have been published since the year 2000. The parameters evaluated were hot carcass weight (221 estimates), cold carcass weight (232), hot carcass (236) and cold carcass yield (223), subcutaneous fat thickness (238) and the percentages of saw cut (233), forequarter (234) and sidecut (246 estimates). Initially, exploratory analysis was performed for each of the variables for detection of publication vices through the dispersion of observations by pointing out the outliers eliminated. Normality tests were normal and the data were subjected to analysis of variance for the regression study, which were assessed to the third degree. Weights of hot carcass and cold carcass, hot and cold carcass yield and the percentage of saw cut had a quadratic effect on animals with the presence of zebu blood, indicating superiority of crossbred animals. The regression equation showed that 66; 50; 72; 81 and 59% of zebu in crossbred animals showed higher hot and cold carcass weight, hot and cold carcass percentage and saw cut, respectively. Fat thickness was not influenced by the degree of zebu in the genotype. The percentage of forequarter has a positive response by increasing the degree of zebu in the genotype, while the sidecut has a negative answer. The crossbreeding between zebu and European breeds provides carcasses with better quality than purebred animals.