Carcass Composition and Cuts of Bulls and Steers Fed with Three Concentrate Levels in the Diets

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

Níveis de óleos essenciais na dieta de bovinos de corte terminados em confinamento: desempenho, características da carcaça e qualidade da carne

Este experimento foi realizado para avaliar o desempenho animal e as características de carcaça de 27 bovinos mestiços (½ Angus vs. ½ Nelore) não castrados terminados em confinamento por 130 dias com a adição de níveis de óleos essenciais na dieta. O experimento foi conduzido em um experimento inteiramente casualizado e distribuídos em 3 tratamentos: Controle (CON), com adição de 3,5 g/animal/dia (E3,5) e com adição de 7,0 g/animal/dia (E7,0) de óleos essenciais. Os óleos essenciais eram formados por um mix de extratos vegetais: orégano (Origanum vulgare), alho (Allium sativum), limão (Citrus limonium), alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis), tomilho (Thymus vulgaris), eucalipto (Eucalyptus saligna) e laranja doce (Citrus aurantium). Os bovinos iniciaram o experimento com 12 meses de idade e peso vivo de 243,4 kg. A razão de volumoso e concentrado foi de 10% e 90%, respectivamente. A adição de óleos essenciais na dieta não alterou o peso vivo final, ganho médio diário, ingestão de nutrientes e conversão alimentar. O GMD foi de 1,64 kg. Os animais ingeriram 7,1 kg de MS/dia, com uma conversão da MS de 4,31. Os óleos essenciais não influenciaram as características físicas da carcaça. O rendimento de carcaça quente foi de 55,1%. A espessura de gordura de cobertura dos bovinos nos diferentes tratamentos foi de 6,7 mm. Da mesma forma, a adição de diferentes níveis de óleos nas dietas não alterou as percentagens de músculo, gordura e osso que foram de 60,3, 17,5 e 15,6%, respectivamenteThis experiment was carried out to evaluate the animal performance and carcass characteristics of 27 crossbred bulls (½ Angus vs. ½ Nellore) finished in feedlot for 130 days with the addition different levels of essential oils in the diets. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized and distributed into three treatments: control (CON), with addition 3.5 g/animal/day of essentials oils (E3.5) and with addition 7.0 g/animal/day of essentials oils (E7.0). The essentials oils were composed of a mix of vegetal extracts: oregane (Origanum vulgare), garlic (Allium sativum), lemon (Citrus limonium), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), thymus (Thymus vulgaris), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus saligna) and sweet orange (Citrus aurantium). The bulls began the experiment with an average of 12 months of age and 243.4 kg. The roughage and concentrate ratio was 10% and 90%, respectively. The inclusion of essentials oils in the diets did not affect final body weight, average daily gain feed intake and feed efficiency. The ADG was 1.64 kg. The DM intake was 7.06 kg/day and feed conversion was 4.31. Essentials oils levels did not affect the carcass characteristics. The average dressing carcass hot was 55.1%. The fat thickness of bulls in the different diets was 6.7 mm. The same, the addition of different levels of essentials oils in the diets did not change the muscle, fatty and bone percentages with the average 60.3, 17.5 and 15.6%, respectivel

Tannin-rich sainfoin pellet supplementation reduces fat volatile indoles content and delays digestive parasitism in lambs grazing alfalfa

Lambs grazing alfalfa or white clover are prone to flavour taint which can be an impediment to consumer acceptance. Here we investigated whether condensed tannin (CT)-rich sainfoin pellet supplementation of lambs grazing alfalfa influences meat sensory quality. Using three groups of 18 male Romane weaned lambs, we compared three feeding regimes: alfalfa grazing (AF), alfalfa grazing + daily supplementation with CT-rich sainfoin pellets (15 g dry matter (DM)/kg live weight, AS) and stall feeding with concentrate and grass hay indoors (SI). We also investigated the potential interest of sainfoin pellet supplementation for controlling digestive parasitism. The sainfoin pellets contained 42 g of CT/kg of DM and they represented on average 36% of the diet in ASlambs. Skatole and indole were detected in most of the AF and AS lambs, whereas in very few SI lambs. Skatole and indole concentrations in perirenal and dorsal fat were lower in the AS lambs than the AF lambs ( P<0.025 to P<0.001), but the intensity of ‘animal’ odour and ‘animal’ flavour of the chops did not differ between both forage-grazing groups. Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle lightness was lower in the AF and AS lambs than the SI lambs ( P<0.001) with the other muscle colour coordinates being unaffected by the treatment and between-treatment group differences in muscle colour coordinates remaining constant throughout the 9-day display period. Subcutaneous fat colour coordinates were not influenced by the treatment. The number of individual anthelmintic drenches necessary to keep nematode faecal egg count below a threshold of 550 eggs/g of faeces was lower in the AS than the AF lambs (0.94 per lamb v. 1.63 per lamb; P<0.001). Faecal oocyst count was lower in the AS than the AF lambs for the first measurement made 56 days after the beginning of the experiment ( P<0.001) and was not significantly different between both forage-grazing groups thereafter. The use of CT-rich sainfoin pellets to supplement lambs that are concurrently grazing alfalfa reduced fat volatile skatole and indole concentrations and delayed the onset of both helminth and coccidian infections

<b>Concentrate levels of crossbred bulls slaughtered at 16 or 22 months: performance and carcass characteristics

This study was performed to assess the animal performance of 97 bulls, ½ Purunã vs. ½ Canchim, that were slaughtered at 16 (16M) or 22 (22M) months with three concentrate levels (0.8, 1.2, and 1.6%) of body weight (BW). The initial body weight was lower for the 16M bulls. The final body weight and hot carcass weights were similar between the two slaughter ages. The hot carcass dressing was higher for 22M bulls. The average daily gain was higher for 16M bulls. The feed intake and dry matter feed conversion were similar between 16 and 22M bulls. The carcass length, marbling, and bone percentage were lower for 16M bulls. However, the Longissimus dorsi muscle area was higher for 16M bulls. The leg length, cushion thickness, fat thickness, conformation, colour, texture, muscle percent, and fat percent were similar between 16 and 22M bulls. The final and hot carcass weights were lower for bulls that were fed with 0.8% of BW. The carcass dressing was similar for the three concentrate levels. The average daily gain was higher for bulls that were fed with 1.6% of BW of concentrate and lower for those that were fed with 0.8%. The concentrate levels had no effect on carcass characteristics, feed intake, and dry matter conversion

How does the dietary cottonseed hull affect the carcass characteristics and meat quality of young bulls finished in a high-concentrate diet?

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effects of diets composed by cottonseed hull and meat aging on carcass characteristics and meat quality from young bulls fed on a high-concentrate system. Thirty crossbred bulls were assigned in a complete randomized experimental factorial design with three diets (CH21: cottonseed hull 210 g kg-1on a DM basis, CH27: cottonseed hull 270 g kg-1on a DM basis and CH33: cottonseed hull 330 g kg-1on a DM basis) and different aging times (24 hours and 3, 7 and 14 days). Meat from CH27 diets presented smaller LM moisture content (p < 0.05). Total lipids were smaller in CH33 diet (p <0.05). At 24 hours, CH21 diet presented smaller LM cooking loss than other diets. The increasing aging time reduced the shear force (p < 0.001) on the LM. Meat from CH27 diet presented the highest luminosity (p < 0.05) and yellowness values (p < 0.001). Three or seven aging days presented smaller values of LM luminosity. Likewise, the increasing aging time presented greater (p < 0.05) yellowness within the LM. Lipid oxidation was lower from CH21 diet (p < 0.001). The fatty acid composition on LM was similar among diets. The use of cottonseed hull could be useful strategies to improve the meat quality and lean beef production

Meat quality from four genetic groups of bulls slaughtered at 14 months old=Qualidade da carne de bovinos não castrados de quatro grupos genéticos abatidos aos 14 meses de idade

Carcass characteristics and chemical composition of Longissimus muscle of 32 young bulls from four genetic groups slaughtered at 14 months old were evaluated. Experimental design was completely randomized and distributed into four genetics groups: 1. Caracu (CAR); 2. Canchin (CAN); 3. Charolais vs. Caracu (CHC) and 4. Aberdeen Angus vs. Canchin (AAC). Carcass dressing and carcass conformation were lower for CAR than CAN, CHC and AAC genetic groups. No difference has been reported with regard to moisture, ash, crude protein, total lipids and total cholesterol among four genetics groups. The genetic groups influence fatty acid profile on Longissimus muscle in bulls. Cattle with zebu genes had the highest rates in unsaturated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids represented approximately 50% of total fatty acid composition on Longissimus muscle. The genetic groups presented differences in PUFA, SFA, n-6 and n-3 percentages and n-6 and n-3 ratios.<br><br>Este trabalho foi realizado para avaliar as características de carcaça e composição química do músculo Longissimus de 32 bovinos não castrados de quatro grupos genéticos abatidos aos 14 meses de idade. Foi usado um modelo experimental inteiramente casualizado e distribuídos em quatro grupos genéticos: 1. Caracu (CAR); 2. Canchin (CAN); 3. Charolês vs. Caracu (CHC) e 4. Aberdeen Angus vs. Canchin (AAC). O rendimento e a conformação de carcaça foram menores para os animais do grupo genético CAR em comparação ao grupo genético CAN, CHC e AAC. Não houve diferença para umidade, cinzas, proteína bruta e colesterol total entre os quatros grupos genéticos. O grupo genético teve influência sobre o perfil de ácidos graxos do músculo Longissimus dos bovinos. Os bovinos com genes zebu tiveram maiores níveis de ácidos graxos saturados. Os ácidos graxos saturados representaram aproximadamente 50% da composição dos ácidos graxos do músculo Longissimus. O grupo genético teve efeito nas percentagens de ácidos graxos saturados e poliinsaturados, n-3 e n-6 e sobre a razão entre n-6 e n-3

Effect of glycerine and essential oils (Anacardium occidentale and Ricinus communis) on animal performance, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of crossbred bulls finished in a feedlot system

The effect of corn substitution by glycerine and essential oils on animal performance, apparent digestibility and red and white blood cells of crossbred bulls finished in feedlot was evaluated. Thirty bulls with average weight of 311±28.8 kg and 22±2 month-old were allocated in three diets: CON (without glycerine or essential oils), GLY (with glycerine) and GEO (with glycerine and essential oils). The bulls were fed a diet of sorghum silage, cracked corn, soybean meal, urea, limestone and mineral salt. Three grams of cashew and castor oil/animal/day were included in GEO diet. Animals were kept in feedlot for 115 days and slaughtered at average weight of 467±40.6 kg. No differences (P&lt;0.05) among diets regarding final body weight, average daily gain and feed conversion were reported. Ether extract intake was higher (P&lt;0.05) in CON diet compared to the others. Dry matter, organic matter and crude protein digestibility was higher (P&lt;0.05) in GLY diet compared to CON. Acid detergent fibre digestibility was higher (P&lt;0.05) in CON compared to GLY diet. Nonfibrous carbohydrate, fibrous carbohydrate and ether extract digestibility were similar (P&gt;0.05) among diets. No effect of glycerine and essential oil addition on total blood cholesterol, triglycerides, haemogram, leukogram and plasmatic proteins was observed. Corn replacement by glycerine and essential oils addition did not affect (P&gt;0.05) carcass weight, dressing and conformation, carcass length and cushion thickness

Glycerine levels for crossbred heifers growing in pasture: performance, feed intake, feed eficiency and digestibility

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a inclusão de glicerina sobre o desempenho animal, eficiência alimentar e digestibilidade em novilhas suplementadas em pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha cultivar Marandu. O período experimental foi de 102 dias, sendo os primeiros 14 destinados á adaptação às dietas e às condições experimentais. Foram utilizadas 36 novilhas mestiças com peso inicial médio de 226 + 12 kg e 13 meses de idade distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e nove repetições: G00 = controle; G2,8 = 3,8%; G6,1 = 6,1% e G9,0 = 9,0% de glicerina na matéria seca (MS) total na dieta. As novilhas foram pesadas a cada 28 dias para avaliação do ganho médio diário. A ingestão de MS foi estimada a partir da produção fecal, com uso de óxido crômico (Cr2O3) como indicador externo e da MS indigestível (MSi) como indicador interno. A digestibilidade aparente foi estimada a partir da produção fecal determinada pelo óxido crômico. A adição de glicerina na dieta determinou redução linear (P 0,05) entre os tratamentos. A ingestão de extrato etéreo aumentou de forma linear (P 0,05) sobre os coeficientes de digestibilidade da MS, PB, MO, FDN, CNF e CT. A inclusão de glicerina às dietas aumentou de forma linear (P 0.05) among treatments. The intake of ether extract increased linearly (P 0.05) on the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, crude protein, non-fibrous carbohydrates and carbohydrates total. Moreover, the inclusion of glycerine in the diets increased linearly (P < 0.05) the digestibility of ether extract. The inclusion of low-purity glycerine is not recommended because it provides a reduction in animal performance

Glycerin and cashew and castor oils in the diets for bulls in finished in feed lot: ingestive behavior

Este estudo foi realizado para avaliar a substituição parcial do milho (15% da MS total da dieta) e adição de óleos de caju e mamona sobre o comportamento ingestivo de Nelore machos, confinados. Trinta bovinos de 24 ± 2 meses de idade e 400 ± 34 kg de peso corporal foram usados. Os animais foram distribuídos em um modelo estatístico inteiramente casualizado (10 animais por tratamento) e estabulados em baias coletivas. As dietas experimentais foram: Controle – CON; Glicerina – GLI e GOF – Glicerina + óleos funcionais. As escalas de observações não influenciaram o tempo de ingestão, ruminação e ócio, assim como o número total de mastigação; entretanto, o número de período e o tempo de período de cada atividade diferiram entre os tempos de escalas. Não houve diferença para os turnos de observações e número de observações por turno para as variáveis analisadas. A inclusão de glicerina na dieta reduziu o tempo de ruminação e aumentou o tempo de ócio. O número de período tanto de ingestão como de ócio, e o tempo de ócio diferiram entre as dietas. No entanto, o número de período de ruminação, tempo de ingestão e período de ruminação foi similar entre as dietas. A inclusão de glicerina e óleos funcionais na dieta aumentou o número de bolos ruminados por dia, número de mastigação por dia e tempo total de mastigação dos bovinos. This study was carried out to evaluate partial replacing of corn (15% of total diet DM) and cashew and castor oils addition on ingestive behavior of Nellore bulls in feedlot. Thirty bulls of 24 ± 2 months old and 400 ± 34 kg body weight were used. The bulls were distributed in a completely randomized design (10 bulls per treatment) and housed in collective pens. The experimental diets were: Control – CON; Glycerine – GLY and Glycerine + Functional oils. The observation scales did not influence time spent eating, ruminating or resting, as well as, the total number of chewing; however the number of periods and the time period for such activities differed among the scales time. There was no difference for the number of observations turns and number of observations per turn for analyzed variables. Glycerine inclusion in the diets caused a decrease on ruminating time and an increase in resting time. The numbers for both eating and resting periods, and time per resting period differed among diets, however, the number for ruminating period, eating time and rumination period were similar among diets. Both glycerine and functional oils inclusion in the diets increased the number of ruminated bolus per day, number of chewed per day and total chewing time for cattle

Animal Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Bulls (1/2 Purunã vs 1/2 Canchim) Slaughtered at 16 and 22 Months Old, and Three Different Weights

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