Characteristics of the carcass and meat of steers finished in feedlot with fixed levels of concentrated

Abstract

This experiment aimed to evaluate the characteristics of meat and carcass of steers finished in feedlot fed with corn silage “ad libitum” associated to the daily fixed inclusion of 4 kg animal-1 of energetic concentrate with 15%.crude protein or concentrate with 32% crude protein in the ratio of 2 kg animal-1 or 1.5 kg animal-1. Thirty-six steers were used, being eighteen Canchim (5/8 Charolais and 3/8 Nelore), with average age of 8 months and initial mean live weight of 250 kg. The daily fixed supplementation of 4 kg of concentrate during the termination of beef cattle in feedlot improved the thickness of subcutaneous fat and the marbling of the carcasses front against the use of the protein concentrate in the ratio of 1.5 kg animal-1 or 2 kg animal-1. The daily supplementation of 4 kg of concentrate animal-1 in the alimentary diet in confined cattle provided greater live weight of slaughter, greater degree of finishing of the carcasses, more good texture and marbling of the meat, with remaining meat and carcasses characteristic similar to the 2 kg of protein concentrate.