Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o desempenho, as características quantitativas da carcaça e qualitativas da carne de novilhas de sexta geração oriundas do cruzamento entre as raças Charolês e Nelore abatidas aos 18 meses de idade. Os tratamentos testados foram os grupos genéticos 43/64 Nelore 21/64 Charolês (4364NE) e 43/64 Charolês 21/64 Nelore (4364CH). Foram utilizadas 36 novilhas, com idade média de 15 meses e peso médio inicial de 262 kg de peso corporal. Os animais foram terminados em pastagem de sorgo forrageiro, recebendo suplementação em nível de 1% do peso corporal. O grupo genético dos animais não influenciou os seus desempenhos, com ganhos de pesos diários de 0,827 e 0,860 kg para animais 4364NE e 4364CH, respectivamente. As características de carcaça não foram influenciadas pelo grupo genético dos animais, com pesos médios de carcaça quente de 197,46 e 193,19 kg e 56,68% e 55,63%, para animais 4364NE e 4364CH, respectivamente. Foram observados para cor, textura, suculência e maciez valores médios entre os tratamentos de 4,41; 4,27; 6,04 e 6,24 pontos, respectivamente. As predominâncias genéticas da sexta geração do cruzamento Charolês x Nelore não afetam as características de desempenho, carcaça e carne de novilhas.

Abstract The objective of the present study was to evaluate the performance, quantitative characteristics of the carcass and qualitative of the meat of sixth generation heifers from the crossing between the Charolais and Nelore races slaughtered at 18 months of age. The treatments tested were the genetic groups 43/64 Nellore 21/64 Charolais (4364NE) and 43/64 Charolais 21/64 Nellore (4364CH). Thirty-six heifers with a mean age of 15 months and initial mean weight of 262 kg of body weight were used. The animals were finished in forage sorghum pasture, receiving supplementation at the level of 1% of body weight. The genetic group of the animals did not influence their performance, with daily weight gains of 0.827 and 0.860 kg for animals 4364NE and 4364CH, respectively. The carcass characteristics were not influenced by the genetic group of the animals, with average carcass weights of 197.46 and 193.19 kg and 56.68 and 55.63% for 4364NE and 4364CH, respectively. It was observed for color, texture, juiciness, softness average values between treatments of 4.41; 4.27; 6.04 and 6.24 points, respectively. Genetic predominance of the sixth generation of the Charolais x Nellore cross did not affect the performance, carcass and beef characteristics of heifers.

Resumo: Objetivou-se, por meio de meta-análise, avaliar as características da carcaça e da carne de vacas de descarte abatidas com diferentes pesos e grau de acabamento. Os tratamentos foram conforme o peso de abate, sendo eles acima de 480,5 kg (Pesada) ou abaixo de 480 kg (Leve) de PV; e grau de acabamento de carcaça, sendo espessura de gordura subcutânea entre 6 a 10 mm (>6) ou entre 3 a 6 mm (<6). O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado em arranjo fatorial 2 x 2, duas classes de peso de abate e duas classes de grau de acabamento de carcaça. Para isso, foram avaliados artigos de trabalhos realizados no Brasil que envolveram estudos de carcaças e carne de vacas de biótipo corte, publicados entre janeiro de 2000 a março de 2013, e que pudessem ser acessados pelas plataformas de busca SciELO e Capes. Os artigos foram localizados a partir da combinação das seguintes palavras-chave: carcaça, carne, fêmeas bovinas, novilhas e vacas. O aumento no peso de abate não refletiu no peso de carcaça quente (252,3 contra 233,3 kg). Houve menor rendimento de carcaça quente (52,9 contra 56,9 %) e maior conformação (10,0 contra 8,6 pontos). O maior grau de acabamento influenciou positivamente o marmoreio (8,7 contra 5,4 pontos). A elevação do peso de abate confere carcaças melhor conformadas, sem refletir na qualidade da carne; já a elevação do grau de acabamento, além de 6 mm, altera as características sensoriais da carne.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to carry out a meta-analysis of the carcass and meat characteristics of cull cows slaughtered at different weights and degree of fatness. The treatments were according to slaughter weight, (above 480.5 kg , Heavy, or below 480 kg, Light, of LW); and carcass degree of fatness (fat thickness between 6 and 10 mm, >6, or between 3 and 6 mm, <6). A completely random experimental design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement was used with two classes of slaughter weight and two classes of carcass degree of fatness. We evaluated papers about studies on cull cows carcass and meat, performed in Brazil between January 2000 and March 2013, available for access at SciELO and Capes search platforms. The papers were found through the combination of the following keywords: carcass, meat, bovine females, heifers and cows. The increase in cow’s slaughter weight did not affect hot carcass weight (252.3 versus 233.3 kg). There was less hot carcass yield (52.9 versus 56.9%) and higher conformation (10.0 against 8.6 points). The highest degree of finishing positively influenced marbling (8.7 versus 5.4 points). The increase in slaughter weight produces better carcass conformation but does not affect meat quality; on the other hand, raising the finishing degree above 6mm changes the sensory characteristics of meat.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbohydrate sources (corn, soybean hulls or wheat bran) in the diet on performance of feedlot steers in the finishing phase. Twenty-four Charolais × Nellore crossbred steers, aged 22 months and initial weight of 335.0±10.9 kg were used in the experiment. Diets contained 40% sorghum silage and 60% concentrate. The intakes of dry matter (DM; 10.68, 10.16 and 10.34 kg/day) and crude protein (1.66, 1.70 and 1.72 kg/day) were not affected by diets with corn, soybean hulls or wheat bran, respectively. The intakes of neutral and acid detergent fiber were higher for soybean hulls, but the diet containing corn provided higher intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates, total digestible nutrients and digestible energy. Weight gain was higher and better feed conversion for animals fed corn (1.57 kg/day, 6.85 kg DM/kg gain) or soybean hulls (1.58 kg/day and 6.61 kg DM/kg gain) compared with steers receiving wheat bran (1.29 kg/day and 8.14 kg DM/kg gain) in the diet. There was no significant effect of carbohydrate sources on the final body score (3.78 points), energy conversion (28.25 Mcal digestible energy/kg gain), hot carcass yield (57.63 kg/100 kg BW) and fat thickness (3.1 mm). From an economic point of view, soybean hulls can be an alternative source of carbohydrate to corn in diets of finishing steers with 60% concentrate.