Main altered characteristics in the meat of young cattle of different sexual conditions supplemented in tropical pasture.

The aim was to identify the predominant variables in the differentiation of meat quality of cattle submitted to surgical castration, immunocastration, or non-castration and finished in a tropical pasture. Thirty-nine crossbred cattle were used and distributed in three treatments: i) surgical castration; ii) immunocastration; and iii) non-castration, with an initial mean age of 14.06±0.72 months and a mean weight of 284.10±31.40 kg. We used the principal component analysis to differentiate the qualitative meat characteristics between the treatments. Based on that analysis, we found that the first three principal components explained 71.44% of the total variation in the meat quality data, which ensures that the variation found is associated with the effect of the treatments. The characteristics correlated with the first three principal components and responsible for the discrimination between sexual conditions were subcutaneous fat thickness, instrumental meat color, cooking loss and shear force. These characteristics were similar among castrated animals, regardless of the methods. Therefore, immunological castration preserves the attributes of the meat and prevents possible damage to the physical and mental integrity of the animals. Finally, principal component analysis is an important methodology in the objective investigation of beef meat attributes.

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of male pigs submitted to surgical or immunological castration.

The objective of this study was to evaluate carcass characteristics and meat quality of surgically castrated and immunocastrated male pigs. Data were collected from 24 surgically castrated pigs and 24 immunocastrated male entire originating from the commercial line (Agroceres x Topigs), receiving isonutritive diets and were housed in the same experimental shed, slaughtered at 177 days old, with a slaughter weight of 127.8 (± 6.5) and 135.1 (± 7.8) kg, respectively. Carcass and meat quality characteristics such as carcass yield, lean meat yield, fat content, backfat thickness, muscle depth, pH, meat coloring and, drip, thawing and cooking loss, were evaluated. Immunocastrated pigs have heavier carcass, higher meat yield and lower fat thickness when compared to surgically castrated animals. Regarding meat quality, the immunocastrated presented a lighter meat, less reddness and less water holding capacity. In conclusion, this study confirmed that the carcass of male pigs, submitted immunocastration, has lower yield, however, more meat and less fat content, when compared to carcass of male pigs surgically castrated. Meat quality showed peculiar characteristics for immunocastrated pigs, and can be used more for sausage production, since it retains less water and have smaller redness color compared to surgically castrated pigs.

Effects of Muscle and Finishing Diets Containing Distillers Grains with Low Moisture Levels on Fatty Acid Deposition in Two Novel Value-added Beef Cuts.

This study evaluated the effects of muscle and dietary treatments including CORN, dry distillers grains (DDGS), and modified distillers grains (MDGS) on fatty acid (FA) deposition in two novel value-added beef cuts (Petite Tender - M. teres major - TM, and Flat Iron - M. infraspinatus - INF). Crossbred steers were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments (CORN, 40% of DDGS with 8%-12% of moisture, and 40% of MDGS with 45%-55% of moisture - DM basis) and fed for 190 days. The TM muscle had higher concentrations of ω6 FAs and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) when compared to INF. Beef fed CORN showed greater C16:0 and lower C18:0 values when compared to beef fed distillers grains (DGS). Beef fed DDGS had higher concentrations of ω6 FAs when compared to MDGS. Different moisture levels only affected FAs containing 14, 16, and 17 carbons. Different muscles, diets, and moisture levels of DGS affected the deposition of FAs in the lean.