CARCASS AND MEAT TRAITS FROM MALE BRAHMAN CREDES AND F1 HOLSTEIN-BRAHMAN.

Abstract

This study was conducted at the IDIAP Research Satation “Carlos Manuel Ortega” located in Gualaca district (Chiriqui, Panama) with the purpose of characterize features of economic interest of the carcass and meat of three bovine racial groups. Grazing area was of four hectare, fertilized and rotationally managed. It was run two fattening two fattlening period were run(C), the first (C1) lasted 110 days and the second (C2) lasted 133 days. The studied racial groups (GR) were: Brahman (BR), Creoles (CR) and F₁ Holstein-Brahman (HBR). Animals were no castrated males, 12 for each fattening and four for each GR. All animals were energy-protein supplemented and were implanted at day 1 and day 60 after starting the fattening. Animals were slaughtered when reached more than 490.1 kg of live weight. 24 hours later, samples from the 12^th rib of the Longissimus dorsi were taken. Dependent variables from Longissimus dorsi cut were: rib eye area (AL), fat thickness (GD), muscle proportion (PM), bone proportion (PH) and fat proportion (PG), while variables related to the carcass were: slaughter weight (PS), carcass weight (PCC), dressing percentage (RC), carcass length (LC), perimeter of the leg (PP), kidney fat (GP) and yield grade (YG). Data were analyzed by a Generalized Linear Model where PS was the concomitant variable, C was the grouping factor and GR was the objective variable. High PS was found in BR (456.6 kg) and it was higher (P<0.01) in 59.1 kg and 51.7 kg than CR and HBR, respectively. The PC in BR was 230.0 kg, but not different from CR (222.6 kg, P>0.05), but both were different from HBR (214.0 kg, P<0.01). Similar PM were estimated for BR and CR (66.9 and 66.0%, respectively, P>0.05) and both were different from HBR (59.3%, P<0.05). Difference in PH between BR and HBR (26.3 and 26.9%, respectively, P>0.05) was small, but different (P<0.05) from CR (24.6%). Higher quantity of PG was determinated in HBR (13.8%), compared CR (9.4%, P<0.05) and BR (6.8%, P<0.05). GD was higher in HBR (7.7%), but did not differ from BR (6.4%), but did from CR (5.4%). LC was not different between BR (136.5 cm) and CR (136.6 cm) but both defered (P<0,05) from HBR (138.8 cm). RC in BR (57.7%) and CR (56.5%) were similar (P>0.05), but BR was different (P<0.05) to HRB (55.0%). AL from CR (60.6 cm²) was bigger in 9.8% (P<0.01) compare to BR and in 4.9% to HBR. PP between BR and CR were not different (81.3 cm vs 80.8 cm, respectively), bur both were different (P<0.05) from HBR (78.6 cm). GP was more accumulated in HBR (1.88%), being different (P<0.05) from CR (1.05%) and BR (1.18%). Higher GY value resulted in HBR (2.87), followed by BR (2.77) and CR (2.19, P>0.05 related to HBR). It was concluded that animals BR present better qualities in carcass traits, but CR presents light advantages for meat traits (Longissimus dorsi).