Álisson Marian Callegaro

Influência do peso ao início da terminação sobre as características de carcaça e da carne de novilhos mestiços Nelore × Charolês

Twelve 5/8 Nellore 3/8 Charolais steers were used, with 22 months (660 days) of age. The animals were feedlot finished and divided into two categories: light animals - initial feedlot live weight (LW) of 362.67 kg and heavy animals - initial feedlot LW of 441.33 kg. The slaughter weight established was of 500 kg. The animals were fed a 60:40 ratio corn silage and concentrate diet. The different initial weights at the finishing increased the feedlot time, since light animals were kept for 94 days and heavy animals for 30 days. Light animals had lower initial and final frames and showed higher fat thickness. The unique commercial cut that suffered influence from initial weights was sidecut. Heavy animals presented higher sawcut and lower quantity of sidecut. Heavy animals had higher muscle quantity. The lower initial weight generated animals with lower frame size and crupper height, carcasses with higher fat thickness and sidecut, lower sawcut and muscle quantity. Meat characteristics were not influenced by the different initial weights at finishing.

Características dos componentes não integrantes da carcaça de novilhos superjovens da raça Devon, terminados em diferentes sistemas de alimentação

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar as caracteristicas dos componentes nao integrantes da carcaca de novilhos Devon terminados em confinamento (CONF), em pastagem de clima temperado (pastagem de azevem - Lolium multiflorum Lam - PTEM) ou em pastagem de clima tropical (associacao de pastagem de milheto - Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke - e capim-papua - Bracharia plantaginea - PTRO). Os novilhos, ao inicio da terminacao, estavam com 320kg e 15 meses de idade. Os animais confinados foram alimentados com relacao volumoso:concentrado de 60:40; o volumoso era constituido de silagem de milho, e o concentrado de farelo de trigo, milho e minerais. Os animais foram abatidos com pesos semelhantes de 388,3; 386,7 e 375,8kg no CONF, na PTEM e na PTRO, respectivamente. Os animais da PTRO apresentaram maior (P<0,10) rendimento de carcaca quente (RCQ) relativo a 100kg de peso corporal vazio (RCQPCV) do que os da PTEM, 64,6 versus 62,6%, e os do CONF apresentaram RCQPCV intermediario, 63,7%. Os pesos absolutos do figado, 5,22; 4,43 e 3,87kg, do conjunto dos orgaos internos, 12,81; 11,37 e 10,83kg, do rumen-reticulo, 7,62; 6,54 e 6,06kg, da gordura do coracao, 1,26; 0,65 e 0,30kg, e dos intestinos, 9,97; 7,13 e 7,49kg, foram mais altos (P<0,05) nos animais da PTEM, em relacao aos do CONF e da PTRO, respectivamente. A mesma ordem de grandeza ocorreu com os pesos relativos desses orgaos. A PTRO e o CONF originaram animais com maior (P<0,05) peso de conteudo gastrintestinal em relacao a PTEM, respectivamente, 60,27; 55,32 e 41,21kg. O CONF proporcionou animais com pesos absolutos mais elevados (P<0,05) do omaso, 5,17kg, em relacao aos da PTEM, 3,70kg, e este peso foi intermediario nos animais da PTRO, 4,77kg. A mesma ordem de grandeza ocorreu com os pesos relativos do omaso, 1,61; 1,12 e 1,54%.

Carcass characteristics of cows and steers from different genetic groups, in feedlot under different feeding frequencies

The objective of this study was to evaluate carcass characteristics of steers and cull cows from two genetic groups, under different feeding frequencies. Twelve steers and twelve cull cows were used and each category consisted of six animals 5/8 Charolais (C) - Nellore (N) and six animals 5/8NC, under three feeding frequencies: twice a day (7 a.m. and 7 p.m.); three times a day (7 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and four times a day (7 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.). The animals were feedlot finished receiving corn silage as forage and concentrate based on wheat bran, corn ground, soybean meal, limestone and salt, with a forage:concentrate ratio of 40:60. The increase in feeding frequency did not influence the animal carcass quality. The cows showed higher slaughter, hot and cold carcass weights (509.7; 280.0; and 277.1 kg) compared to the steers (414.5; 230.5 and 228.1 kg), but the hot and cold carcass dressing percentages and carcass chilling loss were similar in the steers and cull cows. The characteristics that express carcass muscularity were better in the cows that had greater thigh thickness (25.88 vs 23.33 cm). The metrical characteristics were more expressive in the cows which had longer carcasses (132.8 vc 122.3 cm) and greater fat thickness (6.21 vs 3.83 mm). The cows also were superior for forequarter and sawcut weights (103.5 and 133 kg) compared to the steers (84.7 and 111.8 kg), which presented higher sawcut percentage in the carcass (49.06 vs 48.04%). Between the genetic groups, 5/8C3/8N animals presented higher thigh thickness, Longissimus dorsi area and carcass length (25.7 cm; 64 cm2 and 137 cm) compared to 5/8N3/8C (23.5 cm; 57 cm2 and 124.8 cm).

Frequências do fornecimento do alimento no desempenho de vacas e novilhas em confinamento

The effect of frequency of supply of forage (V) and concentrate (C) on the performance of cows and heifers in feedlot was studied. The treatments were the following frequencies in the supply: 2 V/C= V and C twice daily; 1 V/C= V and C once daily; 1 V/2C= once V and C twice daily, 1 V/3C= once V and C three times a day, for the cows or heifers. The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial arrangement 4 x 2, with four replications. There was no significant interaction between frequency of supplying and category animal. The dry matter intake (DMI) was superior for the animals fed 1 V/2C or 1 V/3C a day in relation with the supply of 2 V/C and 1 V/C, presenting values of 11.7; 11.4; 10.6 and 10.7 kg, respectively. The average daily gain (ADG) was not influenced by the frequency of supplying. The DMI was higher in cows (12.6 kg) than heifers (9.57 kg), having no difference in the weight gain. Increasing frequency of feeding the concentrate to two or three times a day, provided greater consumption, not influencing the weight gain of cows and heifers confined.

Performance of feedlot steers finished with different fat sources in diet

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different fat sources in finishing diets on performance of feedlot steers. Twenty steers, with average age of 20 months and initial live weight of 260 ± 41.3 kg, were feedlot fed during 126 days. The animals received corn silage as roughage and the tested concentrates were: basic concentrate (BC); basic concentrate + whole rice bran and rice oil (WRB); basic concentrate + 3 % of fatty acids calcium salts (M3) and basic concentrate + 6 % of fatty acids calcium salts (M6). Each treatment had animals with the following genetic group: 1 pure Charolais (CH), 1 pure Nellore (NE), 2 11/16 CH 5/16 NE, 1 21/32 NE 11/ 32 CH. No significant differences were observed for crude protein, digestible energy, neutral and acid detergent fibers intakes. The animals that consumed 6 % of fatty acid calcium salts presented higher ether extract intake (0.77 kg/day), while those that consume 3 % or whole rice bran and oil showed intermediate value (0.51 kg/day) and the ones that consumed basic concentrated presented lower value (0.25 kg/day). Similar averages were observed for average daily weight gain (1.142, 1.199, 1.365 and 1.391 kg/day, for BC, WRB, M3 and M6, respectively) and final weight (421 kg).

Production parameters and forage loss of oat and rye grass pastures managed with beef heifers fed diets with energy supplementation

Production parameters of intercropped pastures of oat and rye grass managed with beef heifers supplemented with brown rice meal and/or protected fat were evaluated. Twenty-eight Charolais × Nellore crossbred heifers at initial average age of 18 months and initial average live weight of 274.9 kg were utilized in the experiment. Animals were kept on oat + rye grass pastures and distributed in the following treatments: no-supplementation (NS): heifers kept only in pastures; Megalac (MEG): supplementation with protected fat; brown rice meal (BRM): supplementation with BRM; BRM + MEG: supplementation with BRM plus protected fat. The greater participation of oat leaf was from July 5th to August 10th, 2009 and of rye grass, from August 30th to September 26th, 2009. The crude protein content increased until the 55th day (225.1 g/kg). Pasture total digestible nutrients presented a cubic behavior, with an average of 722.0 g/kg. The highest supply of leaf blades, 5.17 kg of dry matter/100 kg of live weight, was found in the second period. Pasture intake increased throughout the periods. Forage mass and support capacity of the animal did not differ between treatments, presenting means of 1245.02 kg of dry matter/ha and 882 kg of live weight/ha, respectively. Stoking rate, forage loss and pasture intake were not affected by the treatments. Supplementation of beef heifers with rice meal and/or protected fat did not change production parameters of oat + rye grass pastures or pasture intake. Increase in daily accumulation rate of dry matter and supporting capacity of the animals increases forage losses.

Qualitative characteristics of meat from cull cows of different genotypes and age class slaughter under different finishing systems: a meta-analytic approach

The aim of this study was to evaluate, by meta-analysis, the quality of the meat of the cows according to genotype, termination system and age class slaughter. During an online research were identified 15 articles with information related to meat quality of slaughtered cows. The data were grouped according of the genotype of cows being: zebu or continental defined, crossed zebu x british or zebu x continental; according to termination system: feedlot or grassland; according to age of slaughter, where: up to 4 years old (young), 4-8 years old (adult) or more than 8 years old (old). The meat of the continental crossbred cows was softer than the other genotypes, both panel of evaluators and by Shear. The meat of cows finished in feedlot showed higher marbling degree in relation to meat of females finished on grassland. The reduction of the slaughter age of cows improved the meat color. The cows genotype affects the organoleptic aspects of meat while the finished system and slaughter age affects the sensory aspects of meat.

Comportamento social, frequência respiratória e escore de limpeza de novilhos confinados com diferentes espaços individuais

Objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento social, a frequencia respiratoria e o escore de limpeza de novilhosconfinados em diferentes espacos individuais. Foram utilizados 48 novilhos com idade e pesos medios iniciaisde 20 meses e 243,4 kg, respectivamente. Os animais foram confinados coletivamente de acordo como espaco individual disponivel, 2,5; 5,0 ou 10 m2. A dieta continha relacao volumoso:concentrado de 39:61(base na materia seca). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso. As analises foramefetuadas atraves do proc MIXED. As medias foram classificadas pelo teste “F” e os parâmetros comefeito significativo comparados pelo “teste t”, com α = 0,05. As interacoes agressivas atraves de cabecadasou ameacas, medias de 15,8 e 5,1 ocorrencias diarias, respectivamente, e o numero total de disputas, com21,9; 21,5 e 19,7 ocorrencias entre animais mantidos em espacos de 2,5; 5,0 e 10 m2, citados na mesmaordem, nao foram influenciadas pelo espaco individual disponivel. Do mesmo modo, o numero de interacao nao-agonisticas foi similar entre os diferentes espacamentos avaliados. Novilhos confinados com 5,0 e 10m2 estenderam seus membros 8,8 e 9,7 vezes por dia, respectivamente, superiores aos animais mantidoscom disponibilidade individual de 2,5 m2, que realizaram esse comportamento 4,3 vezes ao dia. O escore delimpeza diferiu entre os espacamentos – 3,2; 2,4 e 1,1 – para novilhos com espacos individuais de 2,5; 5,0 e10 m2, respectivamente, assim como a frequencia respiratoria, com 27,1; 24,8 e 22,7 movimentos/ minuto,citados na mesma ordem.

Suplementação com gordura protegida para vacas de corte desmamadas precocemente mantidas em pastagem natural

The objective of this work was to evaluate the productive and reproductive performance of beef cows, as well as the performance of their calves according to the following dietary treatments: PRE: supplemented with protected fat (PF) during 45 days prepartum; PREPOS: supplemented with PF during 45 days prepartum and 63 days postpartum; POS: supplemented with PF during 63 days postpartum; PN: without supplementation. The productive performance of cows was not influenced by feed management (P>0.05), except for body condition score (BCS), which was lower for PRE and PREPOS cows at the end of mating season, with the latter cows having similar BCS POS and PN. The calving interval (CI) was shorter for cows supplemented in PREPOS  376 days , and did not differ in cows maintained in PN  383 days. Supplemented PREPOS cows weaned 4.4% more pounds of calf per 100kg of cow at calving  22.6kg  than the PRE and POS cows  21.6kg and 21.6kg, respectively  and 8,4% more pounds of calf per 100 of cow at calving than the cows maintained in native pasture  20.7kg. The fat protected supplementation during pre and/or postpartum periods did not affect the performance of cows and calves.

External body components and internal fat of Charolais or Nellore steers, fed with different concentrate level

The objective was to evaluate the development of external body components and the distribution of internal fat of Charolais (CH) and Nellore (NE) steers, fed with different concentrate level in the diet. The steers were distributed in six treatments constituted by three concentrate level: 35, 50 or 65% (dry matter basis) and two genetic group (Charolais or Nellore). NE steers fed with 65% concentrate in diet showed higher EBW yield, it was not different to CH and NE steers fed with 50% concentrate. Head weigth in relation to EBW was decrease with the increase of the proportions concentrate (4.67, 4.30 and 1 Zootecnista, Depto de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, UFSM, Av. Roraima, 1000, Camobi, 97105-900. Santa Maria, RS. E-mail: mg_ or@yahoo.com.br 2 Engo Agro, Prof. do Depto de Zootecnia, UFSM, Santa Maria, RS. E-mail:darialves lho@hotmail.com 3 Zootecnista, Discente de Pos-Doutorado da Universidade Federal de Goias, UFG, Goiânia, GO. E-mail: regisluismissio@hotmail. com 4 Zootecnista, Profa. Colegio Agricola de Frederico Westphalen,UFSM, Frederico Westphlen, RS. E-mail:patimetz@hotmail.com 5 Engo Agro, Prof. Visitante, UFG, Goiânia, GO. E-mail: jorestle@terra.com.br 6 Zootecnista(s), M.e. Discente(s) de Doutorado, UFSM, Santa Maria, RS. E-mail: luzoot@hotmail.com; mcalisson@yahoo.com. br 7 Discente de Zootecnia da UFSM, Santa Maria, RS. E-mail:jonerzootecnista@yahoo.com.br * Autor para correspondencia