Effects of the Duration of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride Supplementation and Days on Feed on Performance, Carcass Traits and Saleable Meat Yield of Nellore Bulls
Mariana Caetano,
Rodrigo S. Goulart,
Saulo L. Silva,
Paulo R. Leme,
Sérgio B. Pflanzer,
Antonio C. R. dos Santos,
Dante P. D. Lanna
Affiliations
Mariana Caetano
Davies Livestock Research Centre, Department of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
Rodrigo S. Goulart
Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil
Saulo L. Silva
Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil
Paulo R. Leme
Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil
Sérgio B. Pflanzer
Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Food Engineering, The University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, SP, Brazil
Antonio C. R. dos Santos
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
Dante P. D. Lanna
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
This study evaluated the effects of the duration of ZH supplementation and days on feed (DOF) on performance, carcass characteristics, and saleable meat yield of Nellore young bulls. The fixed effects included the duration (0, 20, 30, or 40 d before slaughter plus a 3 d ZH withdrawal period—8.33 mg of ZH/kg of DM) and DOF (90 and 117 d). Feed efficiency (G:F) linearly increased when the duration of ZH supplementation increased (p p p p p = 0.04) than the control group. The hot carcass weight (HCW) (p p p < 0.01). The ZH supplemented group had most of the individual cuts of hindquarters and total saleable meat increased compared with the control. Zilpaterol hydrochloride was effective in improving hot carcass weight, hindquarter, and saleable meat yields of Nellore bulls when fed for at least 20 d before slaughter, independently of days on feed.
