Evaristo Jorge Oliveira de Souza

Influence of genetic type and level of concentrate in the finishing diet on carcass and meat quality traits in beef heifers

Carcass and meat quality traits of thirty-six feedlot beef heifers from different genetic groups (GG) fed at two concentrate levels (CL) were evaluated using 12 - Nellore (NE), 12 - ½Angus x ½Nellore (AN) and 12 - ½Simmental x ½Nellore (SN) animals. Six heifers of each GG were randomly assigned into one of two treatments: concentrate at 0.8% or 1.2% of body weight (BW). Heifers fed concentrate at 0.8% of BW had greater (P<0.05) dressing percentage. None of the proximate analysis components of the beef were affected (P>0.05) by either CL or GG. Heifers from the AN group had higher (P<0.05) carcass weights, 12th rib fat thickness and lower dressing percentage (P<0.05) compared to the other groups. NE heifers had greater WBSF values (P<0.05) than the other genetic groups. Data suggest that the concentrate level can be reduced without compromising meat quality traits.

Taxa de deposição de tecidos corporais de novilhas Nelore e suas cruzas com Angus e Simental

The objective of this work was to evaluate deposition pattems of body tissues of Nellore and crossbreed with Angus and Simmental heifers. Fifty seven heifers (19 Nellore, 19 Angus and 19 Simmental) were used, being 12 heifers (four in each genetic group) slaughtered before the beginning of the experiment as the baseline group. Thirty six (twelve in each genetic group) were ad libitun fed with 30 (six in each group) and 50% (six in each group) of dry matter diet in concentrate. The animals were in a completely randomized design, 3x2 factorial (tree genetic group and two diet), with six replicates per treatment. Nine remaining animals were used for a digestibility trial. At the end of the experiment all these animals were slaughtered and its corporal composition determined. The percentage of subcutaneous fat was greater for Angus heifers. Chemical constituents of empty body weight and empty body gain there did not suffer effects of genetic group. The crossing between Nellore and Angus, as well as the level of concentrate improve carcass characteristics and pattern of deposition of body tissues.

Protein requirements for females of Nellore, Nellore × Angus and Nellore × Simmental fed on two forage: concentrate ratios

This study aimed to determine the protein requirements for females of Nellore, F1 Nellore × Angus and F1 Nellore × Simmental fed on two concentrate levels (30 and 50%). Sixty heifers from three genetic groups with 18 months of age were used: 20 Nellore, 20 Nellore × Angus and 20 Nellore × Simmental. Twelve heifers of the reference group (four of each genetic group) were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment. Another 12 heifers (four of each genetic group) were fed on the level of maintenance and 36 heifers (12 animals of each genetic group) were kept in power system ad libitum with 30% (six of each group) or 50% (six of each group) dietary dry matter in concentrate. Heifers were randomly assigned to six treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (three genetic groups and two diets) with six replicates per treatment. Nine more heifers (three from each genetic group) were used to estimate the apparent digestibility coefficients of food in a parallel experiment. A model was fitted according to the protein retained as function of the gain of empty body weight (EBW) and retained energy (RE) to calculate the protein net requirements. To estimate the metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance the consumption of metabolizable protein was contrasted with EBW. The joint use of the equation net protein gain (NPG) = 197.40 × EBWg - 11.14 × RE is recommended to predict the protein net requirements for weight gain. Protein and metabolizable protein net requirements for maintenance are 1.07 and 3.88 g/EBW0.75/day, respectively. The use efficiency of metabolizable protein for gain of all genetic groups is 37.04%.

Energy nutritional requirements for females of Nellore, Nellore × Angus and Nellore × Simmental fed on two forage: concentrate ratios

The objective of this study was to determine the energy nutritional requirements for females of Nellore, Nellore × Angus and Nellore × Simmental fed on two levels of concentrate. Sixty heifers from three genetic groups were used: 20 Nellore, 20 Nellore × Angus and 20 Nellore × Simmental. Twelve belonged to the reference group (four of each genetic group) and were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment. Another 12 heifers (four of each genetic group) were fed on the maintenance level and 36 heifers (12 animals of each genetic group) were kept in feeding system ad libitum with 30 (six in each group) or 50% (six of each group) dry matter concentrate. Animals were randomly assigned to six treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (three genetic groups and two diets) with six replicates per treatment. Nine more heifers were used in a parallel experiment to estimate the apparent digestibility coefficients (three from each genetic group). Net energy requirements were estimated by the equation of retained energy as a function of metabolic empty body weight (EBW0.75) and empty body weight gain (EBWg). Requirements of metabolizable and net energy were estimated for maintenance by the equation of heat production as a function of metabolizable energy intake. Using the combined equation RE (retained energy; Mcal/day) = 0.0703 × EBW.75 × EBWg1.128 to predict net energy requirements for weight gain is recommended. The requirement of metabolizable and net energy for maintenance of all groups is 70.55 and 106.53 kcal/kgEBW0.75/day, respectively. Use efficiencies of metabolizable energy for gain and maintenance are 36.41 and 66.23%, for the three genetic groups respectively.

Predicting body and carcase composition in Nellore heifers and their cross-breeds

The aim of this study was to predict the body and carcase composition of Nellore heifers and their crosses with Angus and Simmental bulls. Sixty heifers from three genetic groups were used, 20 Nellore, 20 Nellore x Angus and 20 Nellore x Simmental; of these, 12 (four from each genetic group) were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment (reference group). The heifers were randomly divided into nine treatments (completely randomised design), in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme of three genetic groups and three diets (30 and 50% of the dry matter of the concentrate feed, in addition to the maintenance group) in feedlot. Twelve heifers (four from each genetic group) were fed at maintenance level (1.1% of body weight in dry matter) with a diet containing 30% concentrate, and 36 heifers (12 animals from each genetic group) were fed ad libitum, with 30% (six from each group) or 50% (six from each group) of the dry matter (DM) from the concentrate feed. After slaughtering, the right-side half-carcase was completely dissected, and the 9 th, 10 th and 11 th ribs removed, from the left-side half-carcase, were cut. The 9 th, 10 th and 11 th rib cut satisfactorily estimated the fat and bone content; however, the muscle content was underestimated by 5.32%. The 9 th, 10 th and 11 th rib cut also satisfactorily estimated the chemical composition of the body and carcase, but not the physical composition of the carcase of Nellore heifers or their crosses with Angus and Simmental. The chemical constituents of the empty body and carcase are adequately estimated from the 9 th, 10 th and 11 th rib cut when the equations proposed by Valadares Filho, Paulino and Magalhaes (2006) are used. The percentage of macrominerals can be estimated from the rib cut, however, the levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are the most accurate.

Can the body composition of crossbred dairy cattle be predicted by equations for beef cattle

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of the Hankins and Howe (HH46), Valadares Filho (V06), and Marcondes (M12) equations for predicting the physical and chemical composition of dairy crossbred bulls carcasses, as well as the chemical composition of their empty bodies. Methods This study was conducted using 30 dairy crossbred bulls. One group of five animals was slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment, and the remaining were slaughtered 112 days later. Animals were distributed in a completely randomized design into treatments consisting different levels of concentrate (0%, 17%, 34%, 51%, and 68%). The physical and chemical compositions of the cattle were obtained from the right half of the carcass and using samples taken between the 9th and 11th ribs of the left half of the carcass. The estimated and experimentally determined values were compared using the correlation and concordance coefficient, as well as the mean square error of prediction (MSEP) and its components. Results The HH46 equations were better at estimating the amount of muscle plus fat in the carcass. The amount of bone in the carcasses could not be well estimated by the HH46 and M12 models. The M12, HH46, and V06 equations were worst at estimating the amounts of protein, ether extract, and water in the carcass, respectively. In the empty body, the amounts of protein and water were well estimated by the HH46 equations. Protein, ether extract, and water were accurately estimated by the V06 equations, and ether extract by the M12 equations. Conclusion The physical and chemical composition of dairy crossbred bull carcasses, as well as the chemical composition of their empty bodies, can be predicted using the equations tested here. The amount of bone in these carcasses could not be accurately predicted.