Effect of the inclusion of plant extracts, vitamins and their association on biological efficiency, carcass length, total beef cuts, tissue composition and carcass muscularity of Nellore cattle

Abstract Text: This study evaluated the effects of four treatments [(C) Control diet including A, D and E vitamin; (V) Control diet plus 50%  A, D and E vitamin; (E) Diet including plant extracts ; (A)Diet with an association of these two additives (50% A,D and E vitamin + plant extract)] on biological efficiency, carcass length, tissue composition, carcass muscularity and total beef cuts of fifty-six Nellore (Bos indicus) young bulls (+360 kg initial weight and +20 month of age). The treatments provided the same diet for all animals (85 and 15%, for concentrate and forage, respectively), varying only the inclusion of the different  additives. All treatments received monensin (30 mg/kg of concentrate). Animals were individually weighed, blocked by initial body weight, and maintained in individual pens for 105 days (finishing phase; 21 and 84 days, for adaptation and trial period, respectively). At the slaughterhouse, carcasses were identified, cooled for 24 hours, and weighed to determine the biological efficiency. Right carcass half was used to calculate total beef cuts. Sample from 9th to 11th ribs (HH section; left carcass half) was obtained to determine tissue composition and carcass muscularity. There was no effect of treatments for carcass traits (P > 0.10), and total beef cuts (P > 0.10). In conclusion, the inclusion in the diet of plant extracts, vitamins and their associations not affected the carcass characteristics and total beef cuts of Nellore cattle.  Supported by CNPQ/NUTRON ®

Keywords: plant extracts, tissue composition, beef cattle, Nellore