Qualidade da carcaça e da carne de novilhos alimentados com palma forrageira e silagem de sorgo corrigida com ureia e farelo de algodão

The objective of this study was to evaluate the carcass traits and meat quality of Girolando steers (5/8 Holstein-Zebu). Eighteen animals with an initial average weight of 320±32 kg and age of 24±2 months were housed in individual pens and assigned to the treatments in a completely randomized design. Initial body weight was used as a covariate in the statistical model. The trial lasted 84 days. The treatments were: 1 - 60% of spineless cactus (SC) + 38% of sorghum silage corrected with urea (SSU) (3% of urea) + 0% of cottonseed meal (CM); 2 - 60% SC + 26.5% SSU (1.5% of urea) + 11.5% CM; 3 - 60% SC + 15% sorghum silage + 23% CM. The treatments had no effect on the carcass traits, except for hindquarter weight which increased with the inclusion of cottonseed meal in the diet. The percentage of muscle, bone and fat in the carcass was not influenced by the treatments. There was no effect of the treatments on pH, cooking loss, water-holding capacity, shear force, or meat color. The addition of sorghum silage corrected with urea and cottonseed meal to spineless cactus does not alter the carcass traits or meat quality of Girolando steers.