Calidad de carcasas y cortes de cuatro biotipos de novillos en Corrientes, Argentina

Abstract

To determine characters prior to slaughtering, slaughtering and commercial cuts of 2 years-old steers, animal carcass from biotypes 3/8 and 5/8 Zebu x Hereford, Hereford, and Zebu were analyzed. Under a complete randomized trial and during three consecutive years, ten steers from each biotype were fed on natural as well as artificial pastures with strategic supplementation. Prior to slaughtering, animals were weight and body condition score was determined (1 to 9 scale). Animals were slaughtered in a type A slaughterhouse. Carcasses were divided into two halves. Classification and typification were performed according to muscular development (shape) and thickness of fat covering muscles (fatness) obtaining weights and carcass yields. After 24 h left carcasses were cut on the 13th rib and then boned. Boneless cuts were classified in different orders, getting individual weights and cut yield from the cold carcass. Differences among body live weight, body condition, and carcass weight were not statistically significant for Zebu crossbreed type. Yield grades were higher and without significance between 5/8 Zebu x Hereford biotype and Zebu type. Young steer categories (carcass less and 118 kg) were the most frequent for all the biotypes. No differences were found in carcass quality, being them homogeneous. Fat levels were 1 and 2. First class cuts were higher in the 5/8 Zebu x Hereford rather than the Hereford biotypes, but there were no differences for cut yields. According to these results, any of the four biotypes may be considered as excellent alternatives to obtain good quality in carcasses destined to the regional market of the north-eastern region of Argentina.