Carcass characteristics and chemical composition of the Longissimus muscle of crossbred bulls (Bos taurus indicus vs Bos taurus taurus) finished in feedlot

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate final weight, carcass characteristics, chemical composition and fatty acid profile in Longissimus muscle (LM) of young bulls of the crossbred type: Canchim x Aberdeen Angus (n=7), Nellore x Aberdeen Angus (n=12) and Nellore x Continental breeds (Simmental, Limousin) (n=8), finished in feedlot. Canchim x Aberdeen Angus and Nellore x Aberdeen Angus bulls had similar final body and hot carcass weights, while these were lower for the Nellore x Continental breed crosses. Fat thickness and LM area were inferior in the Nellore x Continental breed group. In contrast, lipid contents were larger in the LM of the Canchim x Aberdeen Angus bulls. Nellore x Aberdeen Angus and Nellore x Continental breed crosses featured a similar percentage of polyunsaturated, n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, and a larger ratio of polyunsaturated and saturated and n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in comparison to Canchim x Aberdeen Angus bulls.