Análise multivariada para características de desempenho, carne e carcaça de uma população multirracial Charolês-Nelore

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of the meat, carcass and performance of young Charolais (C) and Nelore (N) races and their advanced crossbreeds of fourth, fifth and sixth generations with mean age of 24 months ending in confinement between 2004 and 2009, raised at the Beef Cattle Laboratory of the Department of Zootechnics of the Federal University of Santa Maria. All the animals were submitted to the same sanitary management during the period of data collection. Multivariate analysis was applied to understand the relationship among the variables. Principal component analysis was used to identify which variables were relevant within the generations of genetic groups studied. In the article I the characteristics of the meat of 171 steers were evaluated. The estimates of commonality indicated the characteristics color, palatability, tenderness, shear force and succulence as the most important. In article II, the carcass characteristics of 159 steers were evaluated. The estimates of commonality indicated the characteristics of cold carcass (PCF), subcutaneous fat thickness (EGS), leg length (C_PERN), arm length (C_BRA), fat (GORD) and loin eye area (AOL) And muscle percentage (MUSC) as the most important. In the second analysis the characteristics of the meat, carcass and performance of 179 animals were discussed. The estimates of commonality showed the characteristics of adjusted weights 365 (P365), 550 (P550), 730 (P730), cold carcass weight (PCF), subcutaneous fat thickness (EGS), leg length (C_PERN), arm length (C_BRA), muscle percentage (MUSC), fat percentage (GORD) and loin eye area (AOL) were the most important. The animals with greater genetic contribution of Charolais breed (above 65%) produce meats with greater palatability, better coloration and lower shear force. The Charolais race and its sixth generation presented greater value for AOL. The Nelore breed and its fifth generation had higher values for the GORD and EGS variables and lower value for MUSC. The Nelore and its fourth generation animals, besides highlighting the variables P730, PCF, P365 and P550, stood out for the variables C_PERN and C_BRA. This shows that animals with larger C_PERN and C_BRA measurements have higher P365, P550 and P730, and the animals also have higher PCF.