Carcass characteristics of bovines from four genetic groups fed diets with or without protected fat

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the yield and carcass characteristics of steers from the following four genetic group: Nellore (N), F1 Canchim x Nellore (CN), F1 Limousin x Nellore (LN) and F1 Aberdeen Angus x Nellore (NA). For this purpose, 32 steers, with age of 19 months and live weight average of 558 kg, raised in confinement and fed diet with and without protected fat for 166 days, were slaughtered. A completely randomized design, with four replicates, following a factorial scheme of 2 x 4 (diet, genetic group), was used. The effect of genetic group was observed on the prime cuts yield and the group NA presented the greatest yield means of the hindquarter (41.65%) and spare ribs (13.90%) and the group LN presented a greater yield of forequarter (47.40%). The loin eye area (AOL) was affected by the diet, showing means of 81.31 cm2 vs. 88.50 cm2 in the diets without and with protected fat, respectively. The physical composition of the carcass was affected by the genetic group, and the group LN showed the greatest percentage of muscle (63.62%) and the lowest percentage of fat tissue (21.65%), while the group Nellore showed the greatest percentage of fat tissue (28.28%) and the lowest percentage of muscle (56.76%). The chemical composition of the HH section was affected by the genetic group, and the greatest contents of crude protein were observed in the groups LN (27.24%) and CN (26.10%), and the ether extract in the group Nellore (68.35%), that did not differ form the AN (68.02%). The lowest contents of Ca, P and Mg (2.62; 1.32 and 0.081%) were observed in the group Nellore.