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Forty ½ Brown Swiss×½ Nellore crossbred bulls were distributed into three experimental groups: CON - diet without addition of essential oils; CLO - diet with average 5,000mg/animal/day of clove essential oils and CIN - diet with average 5,000mg/animal/day of cinnamon essential oils to evaluate three methodologies of visual acceptability: with steaks directly in Trays and Sequential and Random photos. Seventeen consumers evaluated visual appearance of meat using a 9-point structured hedonic scale. CON group presented higher shelf-life than essential oils groups. Trays and Sequential scores were similar in the majority of days; thus digital images could be used to evaluate colour evolution. However, Random photos resulted in lower scores and slower acceptability decrease than Trays and Sequential photos (p<0.05) among the second and fifth day of display. Random photos presented a lower and more constant standard deviation than Trays and Sequential photos (p<0.01) indicating that this methodology promoted a higher standard situation for meat colour evaluation.

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Current study aimed to evaluate the performance of bulls (1/2 Purunã vs 1/2 Canchim) slaughtered at two ages and three different weights. One hundred and thirteen bulls were divided into two slaughter ages (16 and 22 months) and three different slaughter weights (light, 422 kg; medium, 470 kg; and heavy, 550 kg). The body weight was higher for bulls slaughtered at 16 months. Daily gain, carcass weight and dressing were higher for bulls slaughtered at 16 months. Feed intake was higher for bulls slaughtered at 22 months although feed efficiency was better for bulls slaughtered at 16 months. Carcass characteristics were better for bulls slaughtered at 16 months. The percentages of muscle, fat and bone and meat characteristics were similar between two slaughter ages. Feed intake and animal performance was lower for lighter animals. Feed conversion and carcass dressing were similar in the three slaughter weights. Muscle percentage was higher for heavier animals but fat and bone percentages were lower. Slaughter weight had no effect on meat characteristics.

Intensive systems of milk production in Brazil and Holland are compared by SWOT analysis. Twenty-one farms, 10 in Wageningen, central region of Holland, and 11 in Castro, central-eastern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil, were sampled. Data were retrieved from semi-structured interviews with the owners or people responsible for dairy activities, using a questionnaire guide and a digital recorder. After results were analysed, a table was elaborated representing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks for each country. Dairy farms in Holland were uniform, or rather, small and medium-sized farms with high production. It has also been observed that Dutch farms have several problems due to high intensification, for example, hoof diseases with great economic loss. In the case of Brazilian dairy farms, several types of systems and degrees were detected. Brazilian production in the region analysed features a higher quantity than that in Holland, with less intensity when compared to that on Dutch farms.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of slaughter weight on the expression of calpastatin, mcalpain and the RyR3 gene, and on the chemical composition, morphometric measurements, fillet yield and sensorial characteristics of Nile tilapia fillets. In the experiment, 90 Nile tilapia were divided into three experimental treatments regarding slaughter weight (n = 30): in treatment 1, tilapia aged 140 days were slaughtered with an average body weight of 665 ± 85 g; in treatment 2, the animals were slaughtered at 182 days and weighed 1000 ± 177 g; and in treatment 3, they were slaughtered at 238 days and weighed 1325 ± 167 g. There was no significant difference (P > .05) between the treatments for the chemical composition and fillet yield. Fillets of tilapia slaughtered with a weight of 665 g presented higher expression of mcalpain and lower expression of calpastatin gene, lower pH values of the thawed fillet, lower drip and thawing loss, and lower shear force than animals slaughtered with the highest evaluated weight. Tilapias slaughtered at 665 g also presented higher flavor and general acceptance. These results show that slaughter weight may influence important aspects of the quality of Nile tilapia fillets and that the slaughter of Nile tilapia with a body weight of 665 g allows fillets that serve the consumer market to be obtained.

ABSTRACT. This study evaluated animal performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of 36-month old Nellore steers finished in pastures (n = 10) and 20-month old Angus vs. Nellore bulls finished in feedlot (n = 10). Final body weight, carcass weight, characteristics, conformation and fat thickness, were higher (p < 0.001) for the Nellore steers than for Angus vs. Nellore bulls. Water losses during chilling (24 hours, 4 o C) were lower (p < 0.05) for Nellore steers than for the Angus vs. Nellore bulls. Muscle percentage on the 6 th rib was higher (p < 0.05) for the Nellore steers than for Angus vs. Nellore bulls; while bone percentage was lower (p < 0.05) for Nellore steers. After 7 and 14 days of ageing, the L* meat value was higher for the Nellore steers than for the Angus vs. Nellore bulls; the L* meat value was similar (p > 0.05) throughout the ageing period for the Angus vs. Nellore bulls, but higher in meat from the Nellore steers (p < 0.05). Genetic group had no effect (p > 0.05) on meat a* value (redness). Likewise, ageing time had no effect on a* in both genetic groups, and genetic group had no effect (p > 0.05) on meat b* value (yellowness). On the other hand, b* was increased after day 7 of ageing for the bulls from the two genetic groups. Thawing and cooking losses were lower for Nellore steers after day 7 of aging (p < 0.05). The meat of the Angus vs. Nellore bulls was more tender (p < 0.05) at all ageing times studied (1, 4, 7 and 14 days) than the meat of the Nellore steers. Genetic group had no effect (p > 0.05) on lipid oxidation; however, lipid oxidation increased after day7. Meat from Nellore steers contained a higher percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA), a lower percentage of unsaturated (UFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and a similar percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than the meat from Angus vs. Nellore bulls. Intramuscular fat from Nellore steers had a more favourable n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio than that from Angus vs. Nellore bulls (4.37 vs. 11.45, respectively). Tenderness, flavour and overall acceptability were higher (p < 0.001) for meats of the Nellore steers, regardless of ageing time (1, 4, 7 and 14 days).Keywords: Brazil, consumer acceptability, fattening system, genetic groups, meat quality, sexual class.Características de carcaça e avaliação sensorial da carne de novilhos Nelore e touros cruzados Angus vs. Nelore RESUMO. Este estudo foi realizado para avaliar o desempenho animal, características de carcaça e qualidade da carne de novilhos Nelore terminados em pastagens e abatidos aos 36 meses de idade (n = 10) e machos não castrados Angus vs. Nelores abatidos aos 20 meses de idade (n = 10). O peso final, peso, características e conformação da carcaça e espessura de gordura de cobertura foram maiores (p < 0,001) para os novilhos Nelores do que para os mestiços Angus vs. Nelores. As perdas de água durante o resfriamento (24 horas, 4º C) foram menores (p < 0,05) para os novilhos Nelores do que para os mestiços Angus vs. Nelores. A percentagem de mú...

In this paper, weight, carcass dressing, weights of the primary cuts, weights of the physical components of the primary cuts, and weights of the main commercial cuts of 66 Purunã animals, of which 33 were bulls and 33 were steers were evaluated. These animals, with an average age of 19 months at the beginning of the experiment, were finished in a feedlot system during 116 days, and were fed with diets containing three levels of concentrate (0.8%, 1.1%, and 1.4% of body weight). The concentrate was formulated with 25% soybean meal, 73% ground corn grain, 1% of a mineral mix, and 1% of limestone. The interaction between sexual groups and the concentrate level was not significant for any of the variables. Likewise, no effect of the concentrate level was detected on the same variable traits. The bulls demonstrated higher hot carcass weights (265.1 vs 221.7 kg) and a higher proportion of forequarter (38.4% vs 36.1%) however the steers presented with higher proportions of side (19.7% vs 18.5%) and hindquarter (44.2% vs 43.1%). The bulls produced higher yields of muscle in the three primary cuts, there by resulting in higher yields of edible portions of the carcass. The bulls also produced higher weights of tenderloin, knuckle, topside, flat, eye round, rump, and rump cover. The finishing of young bulls in feedlot is to be recommended, since the animals produce carcasses with higher amounts of edible meat and higher yields of commercial cuts, thus allowing for a better price for the carcass. Low concentrate level could be used due to the lower cost of production for farmers.