Jaime Urdapilleta Tarouco

Brazilian beef produced on pastures: sustainable and healthy.

With a herd of 209 million cattle, Brazilian beef production estimate for 2023 is 10,935 million tons, representing an increase of 28.9% and accounting for 20% of the world trade. Beef cattle production is constantly evolving; however, there are extremes, ranging from simple existing farm ranges to intensive forage systems, strategic supplementation, updated health and genetic improvement programs for the production of quality beef. This modern production is based on scientific research carried out at universities and other research institutions. A new generation of professionals with multidisciplinary knowledge and a holistic vision of the productive chain-proposed management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the production of grass-fed beef cattle, whose meat has high omega-3 and CLA contents. Age at slaughter of steers and of heifers at first mating, significant increases in the ratio calves/100 cows, adequate traceability for pastoral systems with hundreds or thousands of animals per farm and a more intense transference of technology are required.

Nutritional composition of the meat of Hereford and Braford steers finished on pastures or in a feedlot in southern Brazil

Chemical and mineral composition and the intramuscular fatty acid (IMF) profile of the Longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) of 60 purebred Hereford, 1/4 Braford and 3/8 Braford steers finished either in a feedlot or on improved pastures of the Pampa biome were evaluated. Pastures were improved with the introduction of Lolium multiflorum, Trifolium repens, and Lotus corniculatus. On average, beef from pasture-fed steers presented higher concentrations of the fatty acids C18:3n-3 (P<0.001), C20:3n-3 (P=0.035), total n-3 (P<0.001) and lower n-6/n-3 ratio (P<0.001) in the IMF, and higher Mg and lower K content in muscle relative to those finished in the feedlot. C12:0 concentration in IMF was higher (P=0.027) for 3/8 Braford than the purebred Hereford steers, whereas purebred Herefords presented lower C14:1 (P=0.003) and higher C18:0 (P=0.022) concentrations than the two Braford groups. The meat composition of purebred Hereford and Braford steers was not substantially different; however, beef produced exclusively on improved pastures presented higher concentration of components that are considered beneficial to human health, such as n-3 fatty acids, and a lower n-6/n-3 ratio.

Relação entre medidas ultra-sônicas e espessura de gordura subcutânea ou área de olho de lombo na carcaça em bovinos de corte

ABSTRACT - One hundred sixty-two animals were used during a 2-year period to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound measurementsto estimate carcass subcutaneous fat thickness (CFAT) and area of Longissimus muscle located between the 12 th and 13 th ribs (CLMA ) .Twenty-four hours before slaughter animals were ultrasonically measured to determine subcutaneous fat thickness (UFAT) and area of Longissimus muscle (ULMA). The correlation coefficients between ultrasound measurements and CFAT and CLMA were 0.95 and 0.97,respectively. Differences between ultrasonic and carcass measurements were expressed in actual (FDIFF and RDIFF) and absolute ( FDEVand RDEV) basis. Means of FDIFF and RDIFF in both years indicated that ultrasound overestimated CFAT by 0,16 mm andunderestimated CLMA by 0.26 cm². Overall means of FDEV and RDEV were 0,34 mm and 1.28 cm², respectively. Analysis of year effectsshowed that FDIFF was greater in year 1 while RDIFF was higher in year 2. FDIFF indicated that ultrasound measurements overestimatedCFAT in animals with 4 mm CFAT. Similarly, animals with CLMA 50 cm² were underestimated. Standard errors of prediction adjusted for bias of ultras oundmeasurements were of 0.40 mm for standard error prediction of subcutaneous fat thickness and 1.66 cm

Estimativas de Rendimentos de Cortes Comerciais e de Tecidos de Suínos em Diferentes Pesos de Abate pela Técnica de Ultra-sonografia em Tempo Real 1

Forty-eight female pigs slaughter at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 kg were used to determine commercial cut and of lean meat yields in pork carcass, with a view of the Longissimus muscle area and backfat thickness estimation by using the real-time ultrasound technology. Live ultrasonic measurements were taken for Longissimus muscle area and for backfat thickness and measures in the hot carcass were made, using optical Henessy equipment, to estimate the backfat thickness and Longissimus muscle depth. The regression equations to estimate the amount of muscle in the carcass obtained a R2 between 0.97 and 0.99, with a residual standard deviation (RSD) between 0.27 and 0.73. The R2 values for Longissimus muscle area obtained by ultrasound and for backfat thickness direct in the carcass, were 0.97 and 0.98, respectively, with a RSD of 3.07 and 3.13. The adjustment of the regression equations for ultrasound backfat tickness, for optical backfat tickness and for directly carcass backfat tickness measurement, presented R2 of 0.99, 0.82, and 0.86, respectively, with a RSD of 2.39, 3.13, and 2.91. The fitted regression equations obtained by simple and multiple linear regressions from the dissection data set were precise to estimate commercial cuts and of lean meat of pork carcasses between 50 and 120 kg. The real-time ultrasonograph technology is accurate to estimate the Longissimus muscle area and backfat tickness in live animal.

Prediction of retail beef yield, trim fat and proportion of high-valued cuts in Nellore cattle using ultrasound live measurements

The objective of this study was to develop equations to predict retail product and fat trim (weights and percentages) for Nellore (Bos indicus) cattle. Live ultrasound measurements of the longissimus muscle area, backfat thickness at the 12th rib and rump fat depth and shrunk body weight were obtained from 218 Nellore steers to predict weights and percentages of carcass retail product, pistola retail product and fat trimmings. After slaughter, carcasses were deboned and weighed and percentages of retail cuts were obtained directly. Measurements taken directly in the carcasses explained 97% and 36% of variation in carcass retail product weight and percentage, and 94% and 36% of variation in pistola retail weight and percentage, respectively. Live measurements explained 93% of carcass retail product weight and 39% of carcass retail product percentage. Lower accuracies were observed for pistola retail product weight (R2=0.87) and percentage (R2=0.33). Accuracies for fat trimmings weight and percentage were 79% and 55%, respectively. Ultrasound rump fat thickness showed greater correlations with retail product and fat trimmings (weights and percentages) when compared with ultrasound backfat thickness. The weight and percentage of retail products and of trimmable fat can be estimated in Nellore steers from live animal measurements, with similar accuracy to equations developed based on carcass measurements obtained at slaughter.

Comparação entre medidas ultra-sônicas e da carcaça na predição da composição corporal em bovinos : estimativas do peso e da porcentagem dos cortes comerciais do traseiro

One hundred two animals were evaluated to develop prediction equations for estimating hind-quarter composition from live animal ultrasound measurements and to compare these equations with those developed from carcass measurements. To develop prediction equations used all-possible regressions procedure for variables reductions and stepwise regression. Final models using live animal variables included live weight (PVUS), Longissimus muscle area (ULMA) and fat thickness (UFAT) for weight (PCTT; R² = 0.78) and percent (RCTT; R² = 0.18) of hind-quarter retail product. The models using variables carcass included hot carcass weight (HCW), carcass Longissimus muscle area (CLMA) and carcass fat thickness (CFAT) and Conformation (CONF) for weight (PCTT; R² = 0.89) and percent (RCTT; R² = 0.67) of hind-quarter retail product. Results indicate that composition predictions equations developed from live animals and ultrasound measurements can be useful to estimate yield hind-quarter retail product.

Predição de curvas de crescimento de tecidos de fêmeas suínas por intermédio da função alométrica estendida

Abstract - Forty-eight female pigs were used to determine tissue growth curves after slaughter of the animals at 50, 60, 70, 80 , 90,100, 110 and 120 kg and dissection of the carcasses. The lean cuts in carcass were made according to that used by Brazilian p ork slaughters.In each cut it were separated muscle, fat, bone and skin amounts. The expanded allometric function was used to estimate and to fit thegrowth curves. The muscle amounts in carcass increased to 41.9% for animals at 50 kg and to 44.1% for animals at 120 kg. The ex pandedallometric function fitted the curve to muscle amount with R 2 = 0.68 and the residual standard deviation RSD = 1.82. The R 2 value forfat percentage was 0.80% and the (RSD) value was 6.35 with increase of 12.7% to 18.3% between animals at 50 to 120 kg. Concerni ngto the growth curves for the commercial meat cut yields, the R 2 value was variable, although with a RSD low. It was concluded that theexpanded allometric function is accurate to estimate swine time growth curves calculated in percentage of weight of swine, slau ghterbetween 50 and 120 kg and that fat deposition is proportionally higher than muscle deposition and that muscle and fat depositio n, inpercentage of carcass, increase from 50 to 120 kg.Key Words: expanded allometric function, growth curves, meat cuts, swine

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of Aberdeen Angus steers finished on different pastures

The present study was conducted to assess carcass features, physicochemical and sensory parameters of meat from steers finished on three types of pastures: natural pasture; natural pasture improved, fertilized and oversown with winter species; and annual summer grassland. The experiment was conducted from December 14, 2009 to November 30, 2010, with treatments distributed in a completely randomized design with a different number of replicates. Animals were used as experimental units. Experimental animals were Aberdeen Angus steers with twenty months of initial age and 354±27.4 kg of live weight, on average. The highest average daily gains were obtained for the annual summer grassland. There was no effect of treatments on carcass conformation. The highest carcass yield was obtained on the improved natural pasture. Forequarter yield, side cut yield and longissimus muscle area were similar between the pastures. Moisture and total lipids were not affected by the pasture. Thawing and cooking losses were higher in improved natural pasture and lower in sorghum pasture. Regardless of the treatment, the meat had luminosity ranging from intermediate to dark, high in red, high in yellow, and considered within the normal range for beef. Meat of higher shear force was found in natural pasture, and lower shear force was observed in meat from annual summer grassland. Average live weight daily gain explained 18% of the shear force. Sensory evaluation by duo-trio test showed differences between samples from distinct pastures in flavor. All the studied systems allow for desirable characteristics in carcass and meat.

Repetibilidade da mensuração de imagens das características de carcaça obtidas por ultrassonografia em fêmeas Nelore

The repeatability of ultrasound image measurements of the longissimus dorsi muscle (AOL) and of the rumpfat (EGG) and backfat (EGL) subcutaneous thickness was evaluated. Ultrasound images taken from the back (between 12th and 13th ribs) and from the rump (between gluteus medium and biceps femoris muscles) of Nelore heifers at 14 and 22 months of age were classified as acceptable, marginal and rejected. The acceptable and marginal images were measured twice by three technicians at different levels of training. It was estimated repeatabilities among and within technicians by class of image quality in order to determine effect of image quality and of the technician at the absolute difference value between the first and second measurement of those traits. The repeatability for acceptable images was higher than for marginal images, for both among and within technicians. Regarding to the absolute difference analyses between the first and second interpretation, the effects of the technician for AOL and EGL and quality class of image for AOL were significant. In general, the repeatability was higher for the most experienced technician. It is advisable that measurements of images in the same contemporaneous group should be done by one single technician.

Desenvolvimento Pós-Desmame, Escores Visuais ao Sobreano e Características de Carcaça de Novilhas Desmamadas aos 100 ou 180 Dias de Idade

This work was conducted with the aim to evaluate the influence of weaning age at 100 (EW) or 180 (CW) days old on the growth of Braford heifers until approximately 18 months old. The calves of EW were daily supplemented during 63 days, at quantity of 1% of their live weight, with a comercial ration with 18% of crude protein and 74% of total digestible nutrients. Average daily gain from birth to 205 days (G205), from this one until 365 days (G365) and from the last one until 550 days (G550) were evaluated. Live weight adjusted at 205 days (W205), at 365 days (W365) and at 550 days old (W550) were recorded. At yearling age, the visual scores of conformation (C), precocity (P) and musculature (M) were evaluated and the rib eye area (REA) and the subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) were measured by ultrasound technique. G205 and the W205 were significantly lower for EW heifers (0.752 kg/day; 187.0 kg) than CW heifers (0.885 kg/day; 214.1 kg). However, EW heifers had G365 significantly higher (0.231 kg/day) than the CW heifers (0.112 kg/day) and, consequently, both were similar at W365 (EW= 223.9 kg; CW= 231.9 kg). The G550 did not differ among treatments, being 0.525 kg/day for the EW heifers and 0.513 kg/day for the CW heifers. Consequently, W550 was not affected by weaning age (EW= 320.6 kg; CW= 326.3 kg). The visual scores of C, P and M were not affected by the weaning age, and the means for the EW heifers were of 4.0; 4.1 and 3.6 and for the CW heifers of 4.2; 4.1 and 3.9, respectively. Weaning age also did not affect REA (EW= 41.4 cm2; CW= 43.3 cm2) and the SFT (EW= 2.5 mm; CW= 2.7 mm). The results showed that heifers weaned at 100 days of age are lighter at weaning however, with an adequate post weaning nutritional level, they get at 18 months similar live weights to that ones weaned at six months of age.