Immunocastration on performance and meat quality of Bos indicus (Nellore) cattle under different nutritional systems

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of immunocastration on the animal growth, carcass traits, and meat quality of Nellore cattle receiving or not Ionophore supplementation at pasture or pasture with concentrate (semi-feedlot). The first experiment (Pasture) was carried out during the rainy season, while the second (supplemented = Semifeedlot) was conducted during the dry season. In each assessment, 60 males were allocated into three treatments, in a completely randomized design: non-castrated, immunocastrated (antigonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine), and immunocastrated animals receiving ionophore. The highly energetic supplemented diet was prepared using 85 % corn and 10 % soybean meal at 1 % body weight, while the ionophore was provided with salt containing 1,650 mg kg-1 of lasalocid. After slaughter, the carcasses were graded, and Longissimus thoracis et lumborum samples were collected for meat quality analysis. The non-castrated animals exhibited a more significant final body weight and hot carcass weight than those immunocastrated regardless of ionophore supplementation (p < 0.05). The carcasses of non-castrated animals had less fat cover and marbling than castrated animals. A high incidence of dark cutting beef was verified in non-castrated animals. The immunocastrated cattle produced tenderer beef, mainly at pasture rearing. In conclusion, regardless of production system or ionophore supplementation, immunocastration was an adequate choice to generate high-quality meat, since it increased marbling and improved beef tenderness. However, limitations regarding animal growth should be estimated.

Performance and carcass characteristics of cattle with different castration practices

“…After slaughter, muscle glycogen is used as an energy source, leading to accumulation of lactic acid and hydrogen ions, resulting in a reduction in pH (GOMES, 2021). Non-castrated animals are more susceptible to a reduction in muscle glycogen, leading to lower lactic acid production, which results in a higher pH (JACINTO-VALDERRAMA et al, 2021), but this characteristic was not detected in this study.…”

Effects of Sex Class, a Combined Androgen and Estrogen Implant, and Pasture Supplementation on Growth and Carcass Performance and Meat Quality of Zebu-Type Grass-Fed Cattle

“…At 12 months of age, differences between bulls and steers in cartilage development were negligible; however, at older ages, bull carcasses consistently exhibited a more advanced maturity [ 41 ]. Jacinto-Valderrama et al [ 55 ], working with Nellore cattle, also reported that the bone physiological maturity of carcasses revealed that bulls, regardless of the production system (grazing vs. semi-confinement), were significantly older than immuno-castrated steers.…”

Carne oscura, firme y seca (DFD). Causas, implicaciones y métodos de determinación

“…En este sentido, se ha reportado una mayor presencia de DFD en machos, comparado con hembras (46); lo cual se explica por la relación entre la testosterona y el comportamiento agresivo, mayor actividad física y estrés fisiológico en los animales. Por esta razón, la inmunocastración ha sido asociada con una mejor calidad de la canal (47). Por otra parte, el estado fisiológico y su influencia hormonal en las hembras, también ha sido referenciado como un factor que afecta significativamente la presencia de la condición DFD, toda vez que Kawecki et al (45) reportaron mayor frecuencia de carne DFD en vacas que en novillas.…”