Beef cattle finishing systems used in scientific research in Brazil: an integrative review

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of this review was to identify, synthesize, and characterize, through an integrative approach, the main beef cattle finishing systems used in Brazilian scientific research. A review protocol was developed, and the search terms were based on the PVO strategy to formulate the study's guiding question: study population (P) consists of beef cattle, the variables of interest (V) were the finishing systems adopted in the studies with cattle in Brazil, and the outcomes (O) were the characteristics of the finishing systems. The following guiding question was formulated: What are the major beef cattle finishing systems used in scientific research in Brazil? The databases used were SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Science Direct. 1,388 studies were found, 1,163 of which were scientific articles. However, 33 publications were selected for data extraction. The studies covered different regions of Brazil: Southeast (14), South (10), Midwest (8) and Northeast (1). The confinement finishing system was the strategy used in 63.4% of the experiments and 24.2% of pasture systems with supplementation. In 81.1% of the studies, the pure Nellore breed or crossed with other breeds was used. Scientific research on cattle finishing in Brazil focuses on confinement systems.

Keywords

• beef cattle farming
• feedlot
• finishing
• pastures
• production systems