Performance and carcass characteristics of steers fed diets with different fat sources. / Desempenho e características da carcaça de novilhos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes fontes de gordura.

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2003

RESUMO

Several fat sources have been utilized in feedlot diets to improve animal performance. This study carried out at the Beef Cattle Sector of the FZEA, USP, evaluated the performance and carcass and meat characteristics of 36 crossbred steers (approximately ¾ Bos taurus taurus, offspring of crossbred Simental cow x Brangus sire), with 14 months old on the average and 320 kg, fed diets with 81% concentrate and 5% protected fat (GP), or 21% whole cotton seed (CA), or without any additional fat (CT). The dry matter intake of the GP diet was lower than with the CA diet, which was not different from the CT diet, but with no effect on daily weight gain and feed efficiency. Blood urea nitrogen was greater for the CA treatment than GP treatment, but in the normal range. Carcass dressing, rib eye area, fat thickness, kidney and pelvic fat, and liver weight were not different among treatments. The pH and temperature in the first hour and after 24 hours of chilling were not different and in the normal range. There was also no difference among treatments in water loss during cooking and Warner Bratzler shear force. The shear force values ranged from 3.0 to 3.5 kg, but were improved after 14 days of maturation. The resulted indicated that the protected fat or whole cottonseed can be used as ingredients for feedlot diets without affecting performance or carcass characteristics, if economically feasible.

ASSUNTO(S)

carcass characteristics confinamento bovino protected fat feedlot performance caroço de algodão whole cottonseed carcaça gordura protegida

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