Effect of Different Nutritional Strategies on Meat Quality and Fatty Acids Profile of Nellore Bulls Finished on Pasture

An advantage of the Brazilian system is the predominant use of animals in pastures, so finishing Nellore in pasture with supplementation can be a strategy in Brazil to obtain meat quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different nutritional strategies on meat quality and fatty acids profile of Nellore bulls fed in pasture. Twenty-four Nellore bulls (409 ± 18 kg and 25 mo) were used in a randomized block designed study. The treatments were: mineral-salt (100 g/animal per d during 155 d; MS), supplementation in the amount of 7 g/kg of BW per d (during 155 d; 7g/kg BW) or supplementation in the amount of 20 g/kg of BW per d (70 d fed mineral salt and 85 d fed 20g/kg BW; 20 g/kg BW). These treatments were done to evaluate if the intensity of the supplementation can affect the meat quality of finishing Nellore in pasture. The supplements were fed daily to paddocks (4 paddocks/treatment; 2 animals/paddock). The bulls were harvested on d 155. After 24-h chill, 2 steaks were taken from the Longissimus dorsi (12th rib). All data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with an alpha = 0.10. There were no differences in pH (5.98 ± 0.11) and cooking loss (31.7 ± 2.21). There was no difference (P > 0.20) on meat color (L* = 36.9 ± 1.12, a* = 16.9 ± 1.07, and b* = 14.1 ± 0.89) due to supplementation strategy. The shear force was similar (P = 0.59) among treatments (3.89 ± 0.51 kgf/cm²). Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were similar (P > 0.14) among treatments. Bulls supplemented had greater monounsaturated fatty acids (P = 0.05). However, polyunsaturated fatty acids were similar (P = 0.65) among treatments. Bulls fed MS had greater (P = 0.07) omega-3 compared to bulls fed 20 g/kg (1.41 vs. 0.598). Bulls fed MS and 7 g/kg BW had similar omega-3. Delta 9 desaturase 18 was improved (P = 0.05) by 7.7% for bulls supplemented compared to MS. In conclusion, these data suggest that supplementation did not influence on meat quality. However, supplementation influence on fatty acids profile, so meat of bulls fed MS and 7 g/kg BW had greater omega-3 compared to animals fed 20 g/kg BW.