The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of addition of different levels of cottonseed (0, 14.35, 27.51 and 34.09 kg/100 kg) in the diet of Nellore steers on the meat characteristics. Thirty-six steers (average initial body weight of 333.50 and average age of 20 months) were kept in feedlot stalls for 94 days, each stall with three animals. The experiment was a completely randomized design with four treatments and nine replications. The values of protein, fixed mineral residue, shear force, lipid oxidation, meat color and fat color were similar among the treatments. The increase of the cottonseed levels in the diet reduced the amount of intramuscular fat and increased the moisture content in the meat linearly. Meat aroma and flavor were negatively influenced when cottonseed addition was greater than 27.51 and 34.09 kg/100 kg of the diet, respectively. Cottonseed diet did not modify the concentration of conjugated linoleic acid, saturated fatty acids or total unsaturated fatty acids, but linearly reduced the concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids in the meat.

Objetivou-se neste estudo determinar as frações de carboidratos e de compostos nitrogenados de genótipos de capim-elefante, em um único corte aos 56 dias de idade, na primavera. Avaliaram-se 12 genótipos de capim-elefante em um delineamento de blocos ao acaso com três repetições, no qual a parcela experimental foi composta de quatro linhas com 3 m de comprimento, espaçadas 1 m e adubadas com 100 kg de P2O5, 100 kg de N, 60 kg de K2O e 25 kg de micronutrientes/ha. As frações de carboidratos A + B1, B2 e C diferiram entre os genótipos. Os genótipos CNPGL 92-94-01, CNPGL 92-70-02, CNPGL 91-06-02, CNPGL 91-25-01, CNPGL 93-32-02 e Cameroon apresentaram os menores valores da fração C de carboidratos. Entre as frações nitrogenadas, apenas as frações B3 e C apresentaram diferenças. Os menores valores da fração C nitrogenada foram observados nos genótipos CNPGL 92-70-02, Napier, CNPGL 94-07-02 e CNPGL 91-25-01.

The objective of this study was to determine carbohydrates and nitrogen compounds fractions of genotypes of elephant grass in a single cut at 56 days of regrowth, in the spring season. Twelve elephant grass genotypes were evaluated in a in randomized block design with three replications, in which the experimental plot consisted of four lines with 3 m length, spaced 1 m and fertilized with 100 kg of P2O5, 100 kg of N, 60 kg K2O and 25 kg of micronutrients/ha. Carbohydrates fractions A + B1, B2 and C differed among genotypes. The genotypes CNPGL 92-94-01, 92-70-02 CNPGL, CNPGL 91-06-02, CNPGL 91-25-01, 93-32-02 CNPGL and Cameroon showed the lowest values of carbohydrates C fraction. Among the nitrogen compounds fractions, only B3 and C fractions showed differences. The lowest values of nitrogen compounds C fraction were observed in genotypes CNPGL 92-70-02, Napier, CNPGL CNPGL 94-07-02 and 91-25-01.

Doze genótipos de capim-elefante foram avaliados em um delineamento em blocos ao acaso com três repetições. A parcela experimental foi composta de quatro linhas com 3 m de comprimento, espaçadas a 1 m e adubadas com 100 kg de P2O5, 100 kg de N, 60 kg de K2O e 25 kg de micronutrientes/ha. Os genótipos diferiram significativamente quanto à altura da planta e à produção de MS, de PB e matéria seca digestível (MSD)/ha. Os genótipos CNPGL 92-94-01, CNPGL 92-79-02, CNPGL 91-06-02, CNPGL 94-07-02, CNPGL 94-09-01, BAG 66, CNPGL 93-32-02 e cv. Cameroon apresentaram os maiores rendimentos de MS, PB e MSD e não diferiram significativamente quanto à relação folha/colmo (F/C). A análise de Cluster sugeriu o agrupamento dos genótipos de maior produção de MS, PB e MSD e dos genótipos com menores produções de MS, PB e MSD.

Twelve elephant grass genotypes were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications. Each experimental plot was formed by four lines with 3 m of length, spaced by 1 m and fertilized with 100 kg of P2O5, 100 kg of N, 60 kg of K2O and 25 kg of micronutrients/ha. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for forage plant height and dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and digestible dry matter (DDM) production/ha. The genotypes CNPGL 92-94-01, CNPGL 92-79-02, CNPGL 91-06-02, CNPGL 94-07-02, CNPGL 94-09-01, BAG 66, CNPGL 93-32-02 and cv. Cameroon presented the largest production of DM, CP, and DDM. There were no significant differences for DM concentration (DM) and leaf/stem ratio (L/S) among the evaluated genotypes. The cluster analyses suggested a group of elephantgrass genotypes with higher DM, CP, and DDM production/ha and other with lower DM, CP, and DDM.