Desempenho e características de carcaça de bovinos de diferentes grupos genéticos

Abstract

RESUMO -Avaliou-se o desempenho de bovinos castrados de três grupos genéticos: Nelore (NN); ½ Guzerá × ½ Nelore (GN); e ½ Brahman × ½ Nelore (BN). Foram utilizados 41 bovinos com 24 meses de idade, mantidos em pastagem de capimbraquiária. Todos os animais eram de mesmo rebanho e foram criados sob as mesmas condições e abatidos aos 3 anos de idade.No início do experimento e no abate, os animais cruzados com Brahman foram mais pesados que os animais dos outros dois grupamentos genéticos. As médias para peso corporal dos grupos Nelore, Guzerá × Nelore e Brahman × Nelore no início do experimento foram: 324, 320 e 343 kg e no abate de: 474, 470 e 499 kg, respectivamente. Os ganhos médios diários, no entanto, foram similares entre os três grupos (0,388; 0,386 e 0,409 kg/dia, respectivamente). Animais do grupo Brahman × Nelore produziram carcaças quentes mais pesadas que as obtidas no grupo Guzerá × Nelore (253 × 238 kg), porém, estes dois grupos não diferiram estatisticamente do grupo Nelore (242 kg). As porcentagens de músculo, gordura e ossos na carcaça foram similares entre os grupos. Outras características da carcaça (rendimento, área de olho-de-lombo, gordura de cobertura e marmoreio) e a maciez da carne, avaliada por um painel de avaliadores e por um texturômetro, foram também similares entre os três grupamentos genéticos. O cruzamento de outras raças zebuínas (Brahman ou Guzerá) com o Nelore não melhorou as características qualitativas da carcaça e da carne, embora o cruzamento com Brahman tenha resultado em animais mais pesados e com carcaças mais pesadas. Palavras-chave: Bos indicus, carne, cruzamento, maciez, zebuínos Performance and carcass characteristics of different genetic groups of steersABSTRACT -This experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of steers of three genetic groups: Nellore (NN), ½ Guzerat × ½ Nellore (GN) and ½ Brahman × ½ Nellore (BN). Forty-one steers, 24 mo old, kept in pasture of Brachiaria grass. All animals were from the same herd and were raised under the same conditions and slaughtered at 3 years old. At the beginning of the experiment and at slaughter, Brahman-crossed animals were heavier than the animals from the other two groups. Means for body weight for the groups NN, GN and BN, were respectively, 324, 320 and 343 kg at the beginning of the experiment, and 474, 470 and 499 kg at slaughter. However, average daily gains were similar among the groups (0.388, 0.386 and 0.409 kg/d, respectively). Animals of BN group produced heavier hot carcasses (253 × 238 kg) than those obtained in the GN group, but these two groups did not differ from the NN group (242 kg). Percentages of muscle, fat and bones in the carcass were similar among the groups. Other carcass traits (dressing percentage, ribeye area, fat thickness and marbling) and meat tenderness, measured by a trained panel or by a texturometer were, also, similar among the three genetic groups. The crossing of other zebu breeds (Brahman or Guzerat) with Nellore did not improve quality characteristics of carcasses and me...

Body and testicular development and serum testosterone concentrations in Brahman males

“…The average daily weight gain (ADG) of the present study was similar to that described by Olmedo et al (2011) in Brahman cattle in the same age groups, and higher than the ADG reported in Nellore by Ribeiro et al (2008). The present study showed differences (P <0.05) between 12, 14 and 16 months of age for body weight, and between 12 and 14 months for ADG.…”

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of Nelore Angus and Nelore Angus Guzera crossbreed cows fed with supplemented pasture during the yearling and feedlot stages

“…However, the lower weight gain in the ¼ Nelore ¼ Angus ½ Guzerá group may be due to genetic proximity between Nelore and Guzerá breeds, thus reducing the effect of heterosis in the gain. Ribeiro et al (2008) found no heterosis effect on the performance of ½ Nelore ½ Guzerá and, according to the authors, this is probably due  ¼ Nelore ¼ Angus ½ Guzerá Ŷ = 317,4 + 0,722*X; R2 = 0,97 ▲ ½ Nelore ½ Angus Ŷ = 277,9 + 0,796*X; R2 = 0,96 to the genetic similarity between these two groups.…”

“…Some studies have been carried out (LEME et al, 2000;SILVA et al, 2004;RIBEIRO et al, 2008) to evaluate the performance of purebreds and crossbreds under several modes of growing and fattening; however, more studies are required to compare different breeds of cattle that are under the same production system (CUVELIER et al, 2006). Based upon the discussion presented above, the aim of this study was to compare the performance and characteristics of the carcasses of two genetic groups during the growing stage with supplementation and the fattening stage in the feedlot.…”

Carcass and meat traits of feedlot Nellore bulls fed different dietary energy sources

“…The rib eye area (REA, cm 2 ) was assessed using a checkered plastic grid placed under the longissimus thoracis to outline the muscle (Boggs and Merkel, 1979;Ribeiro et al, 2008).…”