RESUMO: Realizou-se este estudo com o objetivo de avaliar níveis de energia líquida (EL), mantendo a relação caloria: nutriente, no desempenho e características de carcaça de suínos dos 30 aos 70 kg. Foram utilizados 60 suínos machos castrados, com pesos iniciais de 31,94 ± 3,54 kg e finais de 71,98 ± 5,99 kg. Os animais foram distribuídos em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, em cinco níveis de EL (2,40; 2,45; 2,50; 2,55; 2,60 Mcal de EL kg-1 de dieta), com seis repetições e dois animais por unidade experimental. O período experimental foi dividido em fase I: 30 aos 50 kg e fase II: 50 aos 70 kg. As variáveis analisadas foram os consumos de ração diária (CRD), energia líquida (CEL) e lisina digestível (CLdig), ganho de peso diário (GPD), conversão alimentar (CA), peso final (PF), conversão de lisina digestível: ganho (CLdig:G), custo: ganho (C:G), área de olho de lombo (AOL), profundidade de músculo (PM), espessura de toucinho da primeira camada (ET1), espessura de toucinho da segunda camada (ET2), espessura de toucinho total (ETt), percentual de carne magra (CM) e o índice de bonificação de carcaça (IB). Dos 30 aos 50 kg, verificou-se aumento linear (P < 0,05) do PF, GPD e dos CEL e CLdig com o aumento dos níveis de EL na dieta. Dos 50 aos 70 kg, o aumento dos níveis de EL na dieta promoveu melhora linear (P < 0,05) do PF, GPD, CEL, CLdig e da CA dos suínos. No período total, verificou-se aumento linear (P < 0,05) do GPD, CEL, CLdig e melhora linear (P < 0,05) da CA de acordo com o aumento do nível de EL na dieta. As demais variáveis de desempenho não foram afetadas (P > 0,05) pelos níveis de EL. Verificou-se aumento (P < 0,05) da ET2 de acordo com o aumento do nível de EL, porém sem alterar (P > 0,05) as demais características de carcaça. Recomenda-se o nível 2,60 Mcal de EL kg-1 de dieta para suínos machos castrados dos 30 aos 70 kg.

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effect of dietary net energy (NE) levels on growth performance and carcass characteristics of barrows from 30 to 70 kg of body weight (BW). Sixty barrows with initial body weight (IBW) of 31.94 ± 3.54 kg and final body weight (FBW) of 71.98 ± 5.99 kg were allotted to one of five dietary NE levels (2.40, 2.45, 2.50, 2.55, and 2.60 Mcal kg-1), using a completely randomized block design with six replicates and two barrows per replicate. The experimental period was divided into phase I: 30 to 50 kg and phase II: 50 to 70 kg. The variables analyzed were average daily feed intake (ADFI), net energy intake (NEI), digestible lysine intake (LysI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion (FC), FBW, digestible lysine conversion:gain (LysI:G), Cost:Gain (C:G), loin eye area (LEA), muscle depth (MD), first backfat layer (BF1), second backfat layer (BF2), total backfat (BFt), lean meat percentage, and carcass bonus index (BI). In phase I, there was a linear increase (P < 0.05) in FBW, ADG, NEI, and LysI with increasing NE levels in the diet. In phase II, increasing dietary NE levels also increased (P < 0.05) FBW, ADG, NEI, LysI, and FC linearly. Overall, there was a linear increase (P < 0.05) in ADG, NEI, LysI, and FC with increasing NE levels in the diet. The other performance variables were not affected (P > 0.05) by the NE levels. There was an increase (P < 0.05) in BF2 with increasing NE levels, but the other carcass characteristics were not altered (P > 0.05). We recommended 2.60 Mcal of NE kg-1 in the diet for growing barrows from 30 to 70 kg.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate sequential digestible phosphorus levels for gilts from 30 to 100 kg. Sixty gilts were used, with an initial weight of 29.98±3.37 kg and final weight of 100.66±8.82 kg, distributed in a randomized block design, with five nutritional digestible phosphorus levels: 2.19-1.88-1.68, 2.69-2.38-2.18, 3.19-2.88-2.68, 3.69-3.38-3.18, and 4.19-3.88-3.68 g kg−1, respectively, for the growth phases 30 to 50 kg, 50 to 70 kg, and 70 to 100 kg, with six replicates and two animals per pen. The nutritional plans did not influence the final weight, days to reach 100 kg, total and daily weight gain, total and daily feed intake, crude protein intake, digestible lysine intake, or metabolizable energy intake. An increase in digestible phosphorus and calcium intake was observed according to the increase in the digestible phosphorus level in the diet. There was a significant effect on feed conversion. No effect of nutritional plans was observed for backfat thickness, muscle depth, loin eye area, lean meat percentage, or carcass bonus index. There was no difference in the production of dry and natural matter or the residue coefficient. The effect of the nutritional digestible phosphorus levels in the contents of total solids and volatile solids was verified. There was a difference in the concentration of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the manure. The nutritional plan with 3.19-2.88-2.68 and 3.69-3.38-3.18 g kg−1 of digestible phosphorus results in better feed conversion than the basal diet. For a lower excretion of phosphorus in the manure, the recommended nutritional plan is 2.19-1.88-1.68 g kg−1 of digestible phosphorus.

ABSTRACT We evaluated performance, non-carcass components, and carcass characteristics of crossbred Texel lambs in different categories of residual intake and gain (RIG). We assessed 77 crossbred (¼ Pantaneira and ¾ Texel) non-castrated animals in two study phases. The first phase included 47 lambs with an initial average weight of 29.9±5.5 kg, and the second phase included 30 lambs with initial average weight of 22.4±3.3 kg. Dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) were evaluated for 70 days. Animals were divided into three groups in terms of efficiency: efficient (high RIG), intermediate (medium RIG), or inefficient (low RIG), based on the standard deviation of the mean for the RIG variable. We measured the yield of non-carcass components, carcass characteristics, and yield of meat cuts. Efficiency group had no association with DMI, nor with initial and final body weights of the animals. The ADG of efficient (0.310 kg day−1) and intermediate (0.290 kg day−1) animals was greater than observed in inefficient (0.260 kg day−1) animals. Lambs in the efficient and intermediate groups had significantly higher levels of all efficiency indicators evaluated. Efficient and intermediate animals yielded significantly more wool/skin in comparison with lambs in the inefficient group. Animals with high RIG also had lower relative weight of testicles/scrotal sac in comparison with inefficient animals. Fat deposition in the omentum and mesentery as well as total fat were decreased in efficient animals. No significant differences occurred among groups regarding carcass characteristics and yield of meat cuts. The RIG index allows for the identification of lambs with higher growth rates and greater wool/skin yield and lower proportion of visceral fat.

ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and carcass characteristics of gilts from 25 to 100 kg body weight (BW) fed diets with increased net energy (NE) levels. Seventy-two gilts with initial BW of 23.24±2.47 kg were allotted to one of six dietary treatments (2300, 2380, 2460, 2540, 2620, and 2700 kcal NE kg−1) using a completely randomized block design, with two pigs per replicate, and six replicates per treatment. Corn-soybean meal-based diets were formulated to be fed in three phases (25 to 50, 50 to 70, and 70 to 100 kg BW). Soybean oil was added to replace the inert ingredient kaolin to meet the NE level of each diet. Increasing dietary NE decreased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and improved the feed:gain ratio (F:G) and standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine:gain ratio in all the phases evaluated. In the second phase, average daily gain increased with increasing dietary NE level, although SID lysine intake decreased. At the end of the first phase, increasing dietary NE increased backfat and decreased lean percentage. In the last phase, lean percentage linearly decreased as dietary NE increased. Increasing dietary NE for gilts from 25 to 100 kg BW decreases ADFI and improves F:G. However, as dietary NE increases, lean percentage decreases without affecting growth performance.

ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to evaluate growth performance and carcass characteristics of barrows from 25 to 100 kg fed diets with different dietary net energy (NE) levels. Seventy-two barrows with initial body weight (BW) of 25.19±2.13 kg were allotted using a completely randomized block design to one of six dietary NE treatments (2300, 2380, 2460, 2540, 2620, and 2700 kcal kg−1), which had two pigs per replicate and six replicates per treatment. Diets were formulated to be fed in three phases (25 to 60, 60 to 70, and 70 to 100 kg BW). The six different dietary NE densities were met by adding soybean oil in place of the inert ingredient (kaolin) to a corn-soybean meal-based diet. Increasing dietary NE decreased average daily feed intake and average daily standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine intake in all of the three phases evaluated and improved the feed:gain ratio and SID lysine:gain ratio in the first and third phases. In the first and second phases, average daily NE intake and NE:gain ratio were similar among treatments, but NE increased and NE:gain worsened during the last phase as dietary NE increased. Average daily gain was not affected by dietary NE in the first and second phases; however, it improved in the last phase. Backfat was thicker, and lean percentage was reduced by increasing the dietary NE in all three phases of this study. Thus, barrows consume less feed, but carcass fat increases if dietary NE is increased from 2300 to 2700 kcal kg−1.

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar as características quantitativas e qualitativas da carcaça e da carne de cordeiros confinados alimentados com torta de girassol. Foram utilizados 28 cordeiros mestiços Suffolk, com quatro 4 meses de idade e peso médio de 21,00±0,74 kg, distribuídos em quatro tratamentos: 0% (controle), 10%, 20% e 30% de inclusão de torta de girassol (% MS). O critério adotado para o abate foi escore corporal (3, em escala de 1 a 5). A inclusão da torta de girassol não influenciou as medidas de comprimento e profundidade da carcaça (P>0,05), pH 24 horas (P>0,05), rendimentos dos cortes comerciais (P>0,05), assim como a distribuição de gordura, espessura de gordura subcutânea e grau de marmoreio (P>0,05). Houve efeito linear (P<0,035) e quadrático (P<0,020) sobre a força de cisalhamento do músculo Longissimus dorsi, indicando elevação da FC conforme aumento do nível de inclusão, não ocorrendo o mesmo para os parâmetros de cor L*, a* e b* (P>0,05). Em relação ao tratamento controle, a inclusão de 20% e 30% de torta de girassol influenciou negativamente a área de olho de lombo (12,00 e 11,43 cm2, respectivamente) (P<0,05), peso de carcaça fria (13,19 e 12,58 kg, respectivamente) (P<0,05), e tempo de confinamento (136,85 e 138,39 dias respectivamente) (P<0,05). A inclusão de até 10% de torta de girassol pode ser recomendada para uso em dietas de cordeiros em confinamento, já que permite a produção de carne e carcaças com características quantitativas e qualitativas satisfatórias, sem afetar negativamente as características de desempenho.

SUMMARY This study aimed to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carcass and meat of lambs fed sunflower cake. Were used 28 Suffolk crossbred lambs, with 4 months of age and average weight of 21.00 ± 0.74 kg, divided into four treatments: 0% (control), 10%, 20% and 30% of sunflower cake inclusion (% DM). The criteria adopted for the slaughter was body condition score (3, on scale of 1 to 5). The inclusion of sunflower cake did not influence the measurement of length and carcass depth (P>0.05), pH 24 hours (P>0.05), yields of commercial cuts (P>0.05), as well as fat distribution, fat thickness and marbling (P>0.05). There was a linear effect (P <0.035) and quadratic (P <0.020) on the shear force of the Longissimus dorsi muscle, indicating increase in SF as increase the level of inclusion, was not the case for color parameters L *, a * and b * (P>0.05). In relation to the control treatment, the inclusion of 20% and 30% of sunflower cake influenced negatively the ribeye area (12.00 and 11.43 cm2, respectively) (P<0.05), cold carcass weight (13.19 and 12.58 kg, respectively) (P<0.05), and confinement time (136.85 and 138.39 days, respectively) (P<0.05). The inclusion of 10% of sunflower cake can be recommended for use in diets of feedlot lambs, since it allows the production of meat and carcasses with quantitative and qualitative characteristics satisfactory, without adversely affecting the performance characteristics.

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to evaluate the levels of digestible phosphorus in diets for barrows with a high potential for lean meat deposition from 50 to 80 kg. Eighty barrows, with an initial weight of 47.93±3.43 kg, were distributed in completely randomized blocks, with each group given five levels of digestible phosphorus (1.86, 2.23, 2.61, 2.99, and 3.36 g kg−1). There were eight replicates, and two animals per experimental unit. Phosphorus levels did not significantly influence feed intake, weight gain, or feed conversion ratio. Daily digestible phosphorus intake increased linearly as levels of phosphorus in the diet were increased. Phosphorus levels did not significantly influence muscle depth, loin eye area, backfat thickness, or the percentage and quantity of lean meat in the carcass. A linear increase was observed for feeding cost as the levels of digestible phosphorus in the diet were increased, and the level of 1.86 g kg−1 cost 29.4% less when compared with the level of 2.61 g kg−1. The dry matter, natural matter, the coefficient of the residue, and volatile solids of the waste were not significantly influenced by phosphorus levels. Conversely, it was possible to observe an increasing linear effect for total solids, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen in the waste of animals receiving diets with increased levels of digestible phosphorus. The level of 1.86 g kg−1, which corresponded to a daily intake of 4.77 g−1 of digestible phosphorus, meets the requirements of barrows weighing 50 to 80 kg.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar diferenças entre linhagens da raça Nelore para características de carcaça e qualidade de carne. Foram avaliadas treze linhagens da raça Nelore para as características de peso de carcaça quente, área de olho de lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea, marmoreio e força de cisalhamento aos 7,14 e 21 dias de maturação. Para isso, foram utilizadas informações fenotípicas de 516 animais da raça Nelore e estimadas as diferenças esperadas na progênie para comparação entre as linhagens. Dentre os genearcas estudados, Golias obteve os melhores valores das diferenças esperadas na progênie para peso de carcaça quente (+1,20kg), área de olho de lombo (+0,88cm), marmoreio (+3,47un) e força de cisalhamento média (-0,09kg) e Akasamu para espessura de gordura subcutânea (+0,05mm). As diferenças entre linhagens da raça Nelore encontradas neste estudo podem ser utilizadas na escolha de touros para melhoria genética de características de carcaça e carne em rebanhos de gado de corte brasileiros.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between lineages of Nellore breed for carcass and meat quality traits. Thirteen lineages of Nellore breed were evaluated from data of carcass and meat quality of 516 animals for estimating the expected progeny difference for hot carcass weight, rib eye area, fat thickness, marbling and shear force values at 7, 14 and 21 days of ageing. The founder Golias reached the better values of expected progeny difference for hot carcass weight (+1.20kg), rib eye area (+0.88cm), marbling (+3.47un) and average shear force (-0,09kg), and Akasamu the better value for fat thickness (+0.05mm). The differences between lineages of Nellore breed found in this study couldbe used to select sires for genetic improvement of carcass and meat quality traits in Brazilian beef cattle herds.

The growing use of visual scores (VS) and ultrasound (US) for carcass evaluation in breeding programs, calls for a knowledge of the relationships between these traits and other relevant characteristics, such as feed efficiency and production of commercial cuts. The objective of this study was to evaluate correlations between body visual scores and carcass traits identified by ultrasound (US) and feed efficiency (FE), carcass weight (HCW), dressing percentage (DP) and retail product yield (RPY) in beef cattle. Nellore cattle (male), 42 non-castrated [NCAST] and 44 castrated [CAST]) were evaluated by both VS and US, at the postweaning (15-month old) and finishing phases (21-month old). Visual scores of conformation (C), precocity (P) and muscling (M) were assessed and the backfat thickness (UBFT), rump fat thickness (URFT) and ribeye area (UREA) were measured by ultrasound. Gain-to-feed (G:F) ratio and residual feed intake (RFI) were measured in feedlot. Hot carcass weight, DP and RPY were determined at harvest. Non-castrated cattle had greater HCW and RPY but lower UBFT and URFT than CAST. Postweaning VS and US were poorly correlated with FE in both sexual conditions. Finishing VS were negatively correlated with G:F in CAST and finishing URFT was negatively correlated with RPY in NCAST. The relationship of VS and US with feed efficiency and meat yield is affected by age at the date of evaluation and by castration. Feed efficiency is not related to the yield of meat cuts in Nellore cattle