CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF CROSSBRED DAIRY CALVES FED SPINELESS CACTUS IN TRANSITION

Abstract Text: A study was conducted to evaluate the carcass characteristics of crossbred calves ( Holstein x Zebu ) in the transition from a liquid diet to a solid diet fed spineless cactus replacing Tifton 85 hay. Sixteen crossbred calves with initial body weight of 50.04 ± 6.3 kg were used. Calves were housed in individual hutches, and suckled artificially with 4 L of milk.d^-1 until 30 days of life. After completing 31 days the experimental period was initiated in which the calves began to receive the liquid diet in the same amount (4 liters) also solid foods according treatment. Treatments consisted of the replacement of Tifton 85 hay diet by spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus indica, MILL ) as follows: T1 (DPA): 70 % concentrate + 30 % Tifton hay , T2 (SPV): 70 % concentrate + 15 % Tifton hay + 15 % palm , T3 (STV): 70 % concentrate + 30 % palm , T4 (SCV): 50 % concentrate + 17% Tifton hay + 33 % palm . The experiment was analyzed as a completely randomized design with ANOVA being conducted with the GLS procedure of SAS and the averages compared by Tukey’s test at 5% probability. The DMI, BW, body measurements, BS and fecal score were performed weekly until 67 days of life, when these animals were slaughtered to evaluate carcass yield. There was no significant difference (P ˃ 0.05) in final BW (55.9 kg), hot carcass weight (30.4 kg) and chilled carcass weight (30.0 kg) with the replacement of Tifton by spineless cactus. As the treatments did not affect (P ˃ 0.05) hot carcass yield (55.8%) and chilled carcass yield (54.1%). Measures of carcass, carcass length (72.4 cm), leg length (50.8 cm) and perimeter of cushion (44.4 cm) were not affected (P ˃ 0.05) by treatments. Average of 20.9 cm for the areas of rib eye area, and 0.96 cm in the fat thickness were observed, both without influence of treatments (P> 0.05). In conclusion the use of spineless cactus replacing the Tifton hay in the diet of crossbred calves is indicated without affecting the carcass characteristics of these animals.

Keywords: forage cactus; rib eye area; veal