| Popis: |
This study explored the effects of different supplementation strategies in the dry and rainy seasons in the tropics on the carcass traits, meat quality, and economic viability of Nellore cattle produced under grazing conditions. For this purpose, twenty-eight non-castrated male animals (18 months) with an initial body weight of 327.93 ± 4.22 kg were used. The animals were equitably distributed in a randomized complete design thorough four supplementation strategies as follows: i) mineral supplementation (MS) in both dry and rainy seasons (MS/MS), ii) MS in the dry season and concentrate supplementation (CS) in the rainy season (MS/CS), iii) CS in the dry season and MS in the rainy season (CS/MS), and iv) CS in both dry and rainy seasons (CS/CS). Thereafter, carcass traits, primary carcass cut yields, meat quality traits, chemical composition of meat, and economic viability of cattle production across different supplementation strategies were determined. Data revealed that animals under CS/CS showed the greatest (P < 0.01) hot carcass weights among the other supplementation strategies evaluated. Conversely, supplementation strategy did not affect (P > 0.05) carcass traits (the ribeye area, final pH, and forequarter), meat quality traits (shear force, myofibrillar fragment index, sarcomere length, and color), and meat chemical composition (crude protein, fat, and moisture) of the animals. The effective operational cost, total cost, gross revenue, and profit of animals under CS/CS showed the greatest values, whereas the lowest ones were obtained for the animals under MS/MS. In conclusion, data suggest that concentrate supplementation during at least one season (dry or rainy) produces similar meat quality traits and chemical composition of meat, but different hot carcass weight, backfat thickness and hindquarter proportion to those observed when animals were supplemented with concentrate in both seasons. Additionally, CS/CS animals, despite having a higher total cost, have greater profitability when raised in tropical pasture. |
