Gender status effect on carcass and meat quality traits of feedlot Angus x Nellore cattle

Author(s)

Mueller, Lenise Freitas ^[1] ; Carvalho Balieiro, Julio Cesar ^[2] ; Ferrinho, Adrielle Matias ^[1] ; Martins, Taiane da Silva ^[2] ; da Silva Corte, Rosana Ruegger Pereira ^[2] ; de Amorim, Tamyres Rodrigues ^[1] ; Mangini Furlan, Joyce de Jesus ^[2] ; Baldi, Fernando ^[3] ; Cravo Pereira, Angelica Simone ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Coll Anim Sci & Food Engn, Pirassununga - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Coll Vet & Anim Sci, Pirassununga - Brazil

^[3] State Univ Sao Paulo, UNESP, Coll Agrarian Sci & Vet Sci, Jaboticabal - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL; v. 90, n. 8, p. 1078-1089, AUG 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of gender status on carcass and meat quality of feedlot Angus x Nellore cattle. A total of 176 cattle, 20 months old, were confined for 190-days and assigned to four treatments: bulls, immunocastrated, steers, and heifers. Bulls had greater rib eye area and HCW (p = 0.0001). Heifers had increased fat thickness (p = 0.0001). Steers and heifers had higher marbling scores (p = 0.0001). There was interaction between gender and aging time for Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (p = 0.0002), L{*} (p = 0.0118), and b{*} (p = 0.0113) values of beef. The sensory panel results showed that beef from bulls had the lowest consumer overall acceptance (p = 0.0278). Especially, regardless tenderness, steers and immunocastrated beef were considered tender, independent of aging time. Beef produced by heifers, steers, and immunocastrated is considered to be of higher quality than bulls. Thus, it is may be an interesting alternative to produce high-quality beef than bulls, to attend the consumer demand for high-quality products. Additionally, the low fatty acids n6 levels and low n6:n3 ratio, high levels of CLA, MUFAs, and oleic acid suggests that the heifer meat is favorable for human health. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/21241-0 - Study of the genetic variability of meat fatty acid profile in Nelore cattle finished in feedlot
• Grantee: Fernando Sebastián Baldi Rey
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/22709-4 - Immunocastration effect on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of feedlot crossbred cattle Angus x Nellore
• Grantee: Lenise Freitas Mueller da Silveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master