PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND MEAT OF HEIFERS THE SIXTH GENERATION OF THE CHAROLAIS X NELLORE SLAUGHTERED AT 18 MONTHS OF AGE

Abstract The objective of the present study was to evaluate the performance, quantitative characteristics of the carcass and qualitative of the meat of sixth generation heifers from the crossing between the Charolais and Nelore races slaughtered at 18 months of age. The treatments tested were the genetic groups 43/64 Nellore 21/64 Charolais (4364NE) and 43/64 Charolais 21/64 Nellore (4364CH). Thirty-six heifers with a mean age of 15 months and initial mean weight of 262 kg of body weight were used. The animals were finished in forage sorghum pasture, receiving supplementation at the level of 1% of body weight. The genetic group of the animals did not influence their performance, with daily weight gains of 0.827 and 0.860 kg for animals 4364NE and 4364CH, respectively. The carcass characteristics were not influenced by the genetic group of the animals, with average carcass weights of 197.46 and 193.19 kg and 56.68 and 55.63% for 4364NE and 4364CH, respectively. It was observed for color, texture, juiciness, softness average values between treatments of 4.41; 4.27; 6.04 and 6.24 points, respectively. Genetic predominance of the sixth generation of the Charolais x Nellore cross did not affect the performance, carcass and beef characteristics of heifers.

摘要 本研究旨在评估18月龄屠宰的夏洛莱（Charolais）与内洛尔牛（Nelore）杂交第六代青年母牛的生产性能、胴体量化特性及肉品品质。试验设置两个遗传组：43/64内洛尔牛+21/64夏洛莱牛（4364NE），以及43/64夏洛莱牛+21/64内洛尔牛（4364CH）。试验选用36头平均月龄15个月、初始平均体重262 kg的青年母牛，采用饲用高粱牧场放牧育肥，补饲水平为体重的1%。结果显示，遗传组对动物生产性能无显著影响，4364NE组与4364CH组的日增重分别为0.827 kg与0.860 kg。遗传组对胴体特性亦无显著影响，4364NE组与4364CH组的平均胴体重分别为197.46 kg、193.19 kg，胴体屠宰率分别为56.68%与55.63%。肉色、质地、多汁性、嫩度的各组平均评分分别为4.41、4.27、6.04与6.24分。综上，夏洛莱与内洛尔牛杂交第六代的遗传组成，并未对青年母牛的生产性能、胴体特性及肉品品质产生影响。