Performance, carcass and meat qualitative characteristics of Brangus heifers supplemented on pasture, getting different food additives

Abstract

Aimed with this study to evaluate the efficiency of diets with different additives on the performance, carcass and meat traits of 150 Brangus heifers supplemented on pasture daily with 0,32% of live weight. The treatments were: supplement (no additives); seaweed flour (Lithothamnium calcareum) added to the supplement; vitamin E and organic selenium added to the supplement; protected fat added to the supplement; an application subcutaneously of vitamin D seven days before slaughter + supplement; and the association of vitamin E, organic selenium and protected fat added to the supplement + one dose of vitamin D seven days before slaughter. The animals were supplemented by 109,80 ± 11,71 days, when they were slaughtered when reached 337,95 ± 20,56kg. The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and 25 repetitions. The performance, the carcass and meat characteristics were not affected by the additives used. The average ribeye area of 52,00cm2 and the average fat thickness of 3,58 mm in the animals receiving the combination of additives did not differ from the values of the control treatment. The addition of vitamin D3 had no effect on shear force of Longissimus dorsi samples. The use of additives according to the protocols used did not improve the performance, the carcass and meat characteristics of cattle supplemented on pasture.