ContextThe use of crosses between Bos taurus and Bos indicus has boosted cattle production in tropical areas of Brazil, improving carcass and meat standards. However, there is little information on Canchim animals crossed with Nellore. Additionally, freezing is a preservation method frequently used by consumers, which allows meat to be preserved for a prolonged period, but little is known regarding this effect in meat frozen for 60 days from crossbred animals.AimsThe present study sought to evaluate the carcass performance and characteristics, and the effects of freezing prior to ageing on the meat of animals from different genetic groups finished in a feedlot.MethodsA total of 26 male cattle were used, consisting of Angus×Nellore (AAN), Canchim×Nellore (CAN) and Nellore (NEL), finished in feedlot. The carcasses were evaluated after slaughter. The steaks (Longissimus thoracis) were submitted to freezing for 0, 30 and 60 days before ageing, and were then aged for 1, 7 and 14 days.Key resultsConsumption and performance was greater for AAN and CAN animals. The AAN and CAN crossbred cattle presented higher final liveweight, hot carcass weight, dressing-out percentage and rib eye area. Freezing did not affect the meat luminosity, and it reduced the shear force and the purge at 14 days of ageing when frozen for 30 and 60 days.ConclusionsThe crossbreed between Canchim×Nellore animals is an alternative for termination in a feedlot. Meats frozen before ageing were more tender.ImplicationsCrossbred animals have better carcass performance and characteristics and the pre-freezing process yielded more tender meat. The Canchim is an alternative for crossing with pure Bos indicus animals.
It was aimed to evaluate anti-GnRH vaccine efficiency on productive characteristics, seminal performance, size, and histology of testicles of lambs submitted to immunocastration. Twenty contemporary Texel lambs were evaluated, being 10 animals received two doses of 1 mL of anti-GnRH vaccine and 10 received two doses of 1 mL of saline, with an interval of 30 days. Seminal characteristics, weight and histological cut for the testicles, productive performance, and blood parameters were analyzed. Andrological monitoring was carried out every 30 days. All animals were kept on pasture of Urochloa spp. receiving daily supplementation protein-energetic by 90 days. There was effect of immunocastration on slaughter weight (44.3 vs. 48.3 kg), total gain (9.9 vs. 10.3 kg), daily gain (104.5 vs. 108.9 g/day), and feed conversion (5.83 vs. 5.97) respectively to immunocastrated and intact lambs. There was immunocastration effect on testicle weight (0.09 vs. 0.35 g), motility (4.5 vs. 61.0%), vigor (0.40 vs. 3.00), volume (0.09 vs. 0.74 mL) and swirling (0.20 vs. 2.70) in the third semen collection. Immunocastration through two doses of 1 mL of anti-GnRH vaccine with a 30-day interval between doses, causes infertility in sheep and can be adopted for lambs.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing 50% of the true protein from soybean meal with extruded urea on the performance and carcass characteristics of lambs finished on pasture. Twenty lambs with initial weight of 29.9±6.2kg and 5 months of age, distributed in two treatments in blocks at random, were kept in pastures of Urochloa spp. Supplemented with 2% of body weight (BW). The treatments consisted of supplements containing soybean meal as the only true protein source (control), or extruded urea replacing 50% of soybean meal (NPN treatment). There was no effect of treatment on total supplement intake. There were differences in average daily gain (242.1 vs. 264.6g/day), slaughter weight (41.9 vs. 45.0kg) and carcass weight (18.9 vs. 20.1kg). There was no effect of the treatment on the final body condition score, hot carcass yield, carcass length, breast depth, subcutaneous fat thickness or rib eye area. The group of animals that received extruded urea showed superior carcass finishing characteristics (99.0% vs. 66.0%), maturity (22.0% vs. 0.0%), marbling (55.0% vs. 33.0%), meat texture (44.0% vs. 33.0%) and fat (66.0% vs. 22.0%). There were no significant effects on tenderness (7.5kg/f) or flesh color (L* = 33.2; a* = 16.2; b* = 8.3). There were no significant changes in the biochemical profile of the animals' blood during the experiment for both treatments. The replacement of 50% of protein from soybean meal by the extruded urea as NPN source in the supplement for lambs finished in Urochloa spp pastures provides better animal performance and qualitative characteristics of meat, without altering quantitative carcass characteristics.
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