The influence of protected fat in supplements on the performance and carcass characteristics of Nellore beef bulls in tropical pasture.

ABSTRACT

The finishing stages for uncastrated Nellore beef cattle on tropical pasture often produce high yielding carcasses with minimal fat cover. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and carcass characteristics of uncastrated Nellore beef bulls fed a diet containing rumen-protected fat during the rainy period for 210 days. Eighty Nellore beef bulls with 28 months of age, and an initial live weight of 416 kg ± 16 kg, were allocated into eight paddocks (7.0 ha), totaling 56 ha, at 10 animals/paddock, in a continuous-grazing system. The pasture characteristics, performance production, loin-eye area (cm2), subcutaneous fat thickness (mm), and rump fat thickness were evaluated. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on the average total weight gain (203.00 kg) and average daily gain (0.98 kg/day). On the other hand, the subcutaneous fat thickness and rump fat thickness were 42.8% and 49.5% greater, respectively, when the animals were fed a diet containing rumen-protected fat inclusion (P < 0.05). Supplementation with rumen-protected fat provided a thicker fat layer in the carcass of Nellore beef bulls grazing on tropical pasture during the rainy period.