Slaughter weight did not alter carcass characteristics and meat quality of crossbred heifers supplemented and finished in a pasture system/Peso de abate nao alterou as caracteristicas de carcaca e qualidade da carne de novilhas mesticas terminadas a pasto com suplementacao

• Published in: Acta scientiarum. Animal sciences 2015-04, Vol.37 (2), p.173
• Main Authors: Andreotti, Carlos Cesar, Gusman, Jairo Andreas Pardo, Ramos, Tatiane Rogelio, Barcellos, Vinicius Cunha, Guerrero, Ana, do Prado, Ivanor Nunes
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Subjects: Analysis; Body weight
• ISSN: 1806-2636
• DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v37i2.25847

This work was carried out to evaluate the animal performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of crossbred heifers slaughtered at three different body weights. The heifers were slaughtered with 330 (Light), 360 (Medium) and 400 (Heavy) kg body weight. The final weight, average daily gain and carcass weight were greater for HEA heifers, intermediate for MED heifers and lower for LIG heifers. However, carcass dressing and pH were similar for the three heifers groups. Dripping loss, dissection loss and the muscle, fat and bone percentages on the 6th rib did not alter by slaughter weight. Slaughter weight did not affect the colour, shear force and lipid oxidation of meat. In conclusion, heavy heifers finished in pasture and that were concentrate-supplemented had better animal performance; however, the carcass characteristics and meat quality were similar for the three heifers groups. Keywords: instrumental analysis, beef cattle, meat, animal production. Este trabalho foi realizado para avaliar o desempenho animal e caracteristicas da carcaca e da carne de novilhas mesticas abatidas com tres diferentes pesos vivos. As novilhas foram abatidas com 330 kg (LEV), 360 kg (MED) e 400 kg (PES). O peso vivo final, ganho medio diario e peso de carcaca foram superiores para as novilhas PES, intermediario para as novilhas MED e inferiores para as novilhas LEV. No entanto, o rendimento de carcaca e pH foram semelhantes para os tres grupos de animais. As perdas por gotejamento, dissecacao e as percentagens de musculo, gordura e ossos na 6a costela nao foram alteradas pelos tres pesos de abate. Da mesma forma, o peso de abate nao teve efeito sobre a coloracao, forca de cisalhamento e oxidacao lipidica da carne. Em conclusao, novilhas mais pesadas terminadas em pastagem e suplementadas com concentrado apresentaram melhor desempeno animal; todavia, as caracteristicas de carcaca e qualidade da carne nao foram alteradas. Palavras-chave: analise instrumental, peso de abate, novilhas, qualidade da carne.