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Carcass, meat quality traits, and economic analysis of Nellore bulls fed with finishing feedlot diets containing mechanically processed corn silage

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Abstract

Effects of mechanical processing (MP) of corn silage and its inclusion in feedlot diets on carcass and meat quality traits of Nellore (Bos indicus) were analyzed. Seventy-two bulls aged approximately 18 months and with an initial average body weight of 392.8 ± 22.3 kg were used. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, considering the concentrate–roughage (C:R) ratio (40:60 or 20:80), MP of silage and their interactions. After slaughter, hot carcass weight (HCW), pH, temperature, backfat thickness (BFT), and ribeye area (REA), yields of meat cuts (tenderloin, striploin, ribeye steak, neck steak, and sirloin cap), meat quality traits and economic analysis were evaluated. A lower final pH was found in the carcasses of animals consuming diets containing MP versus unprocessed silage (pH = 5.81 versus 5.93). Carcass variables (HCW, BFT, and REA) and meat cut yields were not affected by treatments. The C:R 20:80 increased the intramuscular fat (IMF) content by approximately 1%, without affecting moisture, ash, and protein contents. Meat/fat color (L*, a* and b*) and Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) were similar among treatments. The results indicated that the MP of corn silage in finishing diets can provide better carcass pH results in Nellore bulls, without negatively influencing carcass weight, fatness, and meat tenderness (WBSF). The IMF content of meat was slightly improved using a C:R 20:80 and lower total costs per arroba produced (3.5%), daily costs per animal/day (4.2%), and cost per ton of feeds (5.15%) were found with MP silage.

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Funding

This study was financed by FAPESP - São Paulo Research Foundation, grant number 10/12689–5. This study was financed in part by CAPES - Finance Code 001 and by CNPq (grant number 300045/2022-0).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ), Departamento de Melhoramento e Nutrição Animal, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Rua Prof. Dr. Valter Maurício Correa, Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-681, Brazil

    C. Costa, W. A. Baldassini, M. S. Leal, P. R. L. Meirelles, A. M. Castilhos, N. G. Nascimento Júnior, J. P. F. Silveira, C. M. Pariz, R. O. Roça, M. A. Factori & M. G. B. Silva

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Contributions

Project administration, methodology, supervision, conceptualization, investigation: Ciniro Costa; writing—review and editing: Welder Angelo Baldassini and Mariana da Silva Leal; supervision, investigation: Paulo Roberto de Lima Meirelles; investigation: André Michel de Castilhos; investigation, formal analysis, writing—original draft: Nilton Guedes do Nascimento Junior; investigation: João Paulo Franco da Silveira; investigation: Cristiano Magalhães; supervision, investigation: Roberto de Oliveira Roça; investigation: Marco Aurélio Factori; investigation: Marina Gabriela Berchiol da Silva.

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Correspondence to C. Costa.

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This study was realized according to the standards of the Animal Ethics Committees (CEUA), under the protocol No. 03/2012-CEUA, of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University – FMVZ UNESP Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.

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Costa, C., Baldassini, W.A., Leal, M.S. et al. Carcass, meat quality traits, and economic analysis of Nellore bulls fed with finishing feedlot diets containing mechanically processed corn silage. Trop Anim Health Prod 55, 121 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03525-3

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