Carcass and meet characteristics of very young Angus x Nelore steers in the Agreste Potiguar region

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the carcass and meat of very young steers, ½ Red Angus x Nelore (NEL) and ¾ Red Angus x Nelore (RED). Fifty males were used, 25 from each genetic group, fed in feedlots from weaning (7 months) until reaching the age for slaughter (15 months). A difference was observed between the genetic groups for gains at weaning (158.57 kg NEL and 181.60 kg RED) but the weight at slaughter showed no statistical differences (412.33 kg NEL and 426.53 kg RED). Cold and hot carcass yield was not affected by the genetic group, with NEL bovines showing a yield of 50.49% and 52.55% and the RED of 50.91% and 52.89% respectively. The percentage of muscle (55% NEL and 53% RED), fat (26% NEL and 27% RED), bone (18% NEL and 18% RED), and thickness of subcutaneous fat (4.1 mm NEL and 4.0 mm RED) were similar for both genetic groups. The ¾ Angus x Nelore animals showed a higher loss when thawing (9.05%). There was no difference in such sensory characteristics as overall impression, tenderness, juiciness and shear force in the evaluated genotypes. The genetic groups showed a similarity of characteristics for meat as well as carcass.

Keywords

• Composition of the carcass
• Feedlot
• Thickness of fat
• Tenderness