Effects of stocking rate on carcass characteristics of Ibagê steers

Abstract

This study was carried out at the UEPAE/Bagé, an experimental unit component of the EMBRAPA's research system, to study the effect of animal stocking rate on the carcass of lbagé steers. The experimental animals were kept under three grazing pressures (1,0; 1,5 and 2,0 AU/ha) and were managed in two paddocks of natural pasture and six paddocks of improved pasture for each stocking rate. The natural to improved pasture ratio was 50:50. Killing-out percentages were estimated from "hot" and "cold" carcass weight. Forequarter, hindquarter and rib waights and respective measurements were taken from 120 steers slaughtered through 1978 to 1981. Deboning hindquarter were performed on 60 steers slaughtered in 1978 and 1979. Both hot and cold carcass weights and killing-out percentages were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the stocking rate level. Carcass and leg length as well as beef round were also affected by the stocking rate with a clear superiority for steers managed at the stocking rate of 1.0 AU/ha. Average percentages of forequarter, hind pistol cut and ribs in carcasses were not affected by the stocking rate level (P <0.05). No significant differences were observed for boneless hindquarters between treatments, but for outside shank plus leg of shank percentage, with superior proportion for carcasses out of steers under 2.0 AU/ha stocking rate.