The consumer's profile has changed, and in recent years, there has been a greater concern for the nutritional quality of meat, especially in relation to fat that compose it. The meat fat composition can contribute to the onset of cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, fat is an essential component in the human diet, as well as providing energy; it contains essential fatty acids (FAs) that must be present in food. The meat nutritional properties are largely related to its fat content and fatty acid composition. In addition, fat gives flavor to food, helps in the absorption of vitamins, and plays an important role in the immune response, for humans, and animals. The fat nutritional and sensory quality in meat that is determined by the fatty acid composition can affect the degree of fat saturation, the storage stability, and flavor. There are several factors that can influence the fatty acid composition, such as animals' species, breed, sex, and diet, causing various changes in carcass, as well as in tissues and chemical meat composition.

Princípios e utilizações da homeopatia em bovinos de corte. Uma Revisão Principles and uses of homeopathy in beef cattle. A reviwue Jéssica Luana Gemelli¹, Angélica Simone Cravo Pereira² ___________________________________________________________________________ Resumo: Fundamentada pelo do médico alemão Christian Frederich Samuel Hahnemann (1775-1843), em meados do século XVIII, a doutrina da homeopatia consiste basicamente em estimular a reação orgânica por meio de administrações mínimas e diluídas de medicamentos e é constituída de quatro princípios fundamentais: A Lei dos Semelhantes (Similia similibus curantur), a experimentação no homem sadio, o uso do remédio único individualizado e o emprego de medicamentos diluídos e dinamizados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi documentar, através de uma breve revisão de literatura, o histórico, fundamentos e suas principais utilizações na pecuária de corte, visto que o caráter energético deste principio terapêutico vem se tornando uma alternativa viável e benéfica pelo fato de permitir a automedicação dos animais por meio da suplementação mineral, evitando assim o estresse e assegurando maior bem-estar aos animais quando comparados à tratamentos invasivos por meio de medicação individual, além de propiciar a produção de alimentos saudáveis (carne) para os humanos.

No abstract

This study investigated copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) hydroxychloride cosupplementation on the growth performance, diarrhea frequency, carcass, meat quality, and antioxidant activity in grower-finisher pigs. A total of 256 pigs were used from 70 to 154 days (d) of age, distributed in four treatments, with eight pigs in each pen and eight replications per treatment. Diets were provided to grower pigs from 70 to 112 days old and in the finisher, 112 to 154 days old. Copper was considered the low level at 100 mg Cu/kg and 90 mg Cu/kg, respectively, and 150 mg Cu/kg in both periods as high in the grower and finisher periods. In the grower and finisher period, zinc was cosupplemented in the diet at 80 mg Zn/kg and 70 mg Zn/kg, respectively. In the diets, T1 and T2 groups are the traditional inorganic sources for minerals (copper sulfate, CuSO4; zinc oxide, ZnO) and T3 and T4 hydroxychloride sources (copper hydroxychloride, CHC, and zinc hydroxychloride, ZHC). The flavomycin was associated with treatments with low Cu content in the inclusion of 50 g/ton. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, the data were submitted to analysis of PROC MIXED in SAS, the PDIFF test analyzed the treatment effect. At the finisher period, pigs fed both minerals from hydroxychloride source had a higher BW 154 d, average daily gain (ADG) 70 to 154 d, the hot and cold carcass weight and frequency of normal feces than those fed 150 mg Cu/kg and Zn from a traditional inorganic source (P < 0.05). The animals fed low Cu levels of the sulfate source had a higher ADG 70 to 154 d than those fed high Cu levels of the same source (P < 0.05). Pigs fed 150 mg Cu/kg cosupplemented with Zn from a hydroxychloride source had the highest carcass length (P < 0.05). There was no difference among the treatments for meat quality (P > 0.05). Pigs fed 150 mg Cu/kg and Zn from a traditional inorganic source had a higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity than the other treatments (P < 0.05). Animals fed low Cu levels from hydroxychloride had a higher malondialdehyde (MDA) formation than those fed sulfate source, regardless of the Cu levels and those fed high Cu levels of hydroxychloride (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 150 mg Cu/kg as copper sulfate cosupplemented to zinc oxide in the diet of growing and finishing pigs impairs the growth performance, carcass and increases diarrhea frequency, and copper and zinc hydroxychloride cosupplementation improves these characteristics.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance and the carcass traits of Nelore cattle progenies from bulls selected by contrasting traits for precocity, growth and muscularity, through the Expected Progeny Difference (EPD). One hundred and five Nelore bulls (initial weight of 350kg±15kg) and 20 months of age were confined and fed with same diet (73% of concentrate). Thirty-two animals were selected to create the contrasting groups for precocity, growth and muscularity (16 animals assigned as a low EPD group - LEPD and 16 animals assigned as a high EPD group - HEPD), based on the EPD of their parents. The ribeye area and backfat thickness were performed by ultrasonography of 12–13th rib fat thickness and longissimus muscle area (LMA), as well as rump fat thickness (RF) measurements. Animals were harvested after 100 days and during the deboning, meat cuts were weight for cutting yield. The animals selected for the HEPD group had greater average daily gain (P = 0.006), which can be explained by the higher feed intake (P = 0.006). However, there are no difference between groups for the final body weight (P = 0.254) and feed efficiency (P = 0.715). The LEPD group presented higher dressing percentage (P = 0.028). Although the groups evaluated did not presented difference in LMA (P = 0.329) and weight of longissimus muscle (P = 0.480), the weight of rump displayed heaviest in the HEPD (P = 0.037). There was no difference between groups for RF (P = 0.086). Nevertheless, backfat thickness was higher in HEPD group (P = 0.006). The present study indicates that Nelore cattle progenies, with parents displaying higher potential for precocity, growth, and muscularity, show greater backfat thickness and weightiest of rump than the other genetic backgrounds. Thanks to FAPESP for the scholarship (Grant # 2017/02349–1).

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of contrasting growth rate in pre and post-weaning period on carcass traits and meat quality of feedlot Nellore cattle. To high weight gain, in pre and post-weaning period, were be considered management groups with mean weight gain above the third quartile of pre-weaning (PREW) or post-weaning (PROW) weight gain distribution of population to group of moderate gain were be considered management lots with daily average gains between the first and third quartiles of PREW or PROW weight gain distribution of population. In the low gain group will be considered management lots with daily average gains lower than the first quartile of PREW or PROW weight gain distribution of population. We used a total of 500 bulls, registered in the National Association of Breeders and Researchers, fed during 90 days with the same diet, confined and slaughtered. The PREW presented a weight gain rate (WGR) of 57.1, 67.3, and 77.7 kg for low, moderate and high WGR, respectively; and the PROW of 110.3, 113.4, and 119.4 kg for low, moderate and high WGR, respectively. The hot carcass weight influenced WGR in pre-weaning (297.56±11.80, 323.53±10.09, and 364.31±18.88 kg) for low, moderate and high, respectively (P = 0.03). The carcass dressing was affected by weaning period in WGR (pre-weaning: 54.18, 54.33, and 57.88 %; P = 0.034, and post-weaning 55.52, 56.23, and 54.66%; P = 0.471) for low, moderate and high WGR, respectively. The contrasting weight gain groups did not influence the marbling score in PREW (P = 0.128) and PROW (P = 0.772), back fat thickness in PREW (P = 0.719) and PROW (P = 0.833), ribeye area in PREW (P = 0.472) and PROW (P = 0.833), tenderness in PREW (P = 0.936) and PROW (P = 0.911). In general, the gain rate did not improve the carcass traits and meat quality of feedlot Nellore cattle.

No abstract