title: Effects of pregnancy and feeding level on carcass and meat quality traits of Nellore cows.
abstract: Carcass and meat quality traits of 16 pregnant and 5 non-pregnant cows fed at 1.2 times maintenance and 16 pregnant and 6 non-pregnant fed ad libitum were evaluated. Pregnancy did not affect final body weight (FBW; P=0.0923), cold carcass yield (CCY; P=0.0513), longissimus muscle area (LMA; P=0.8260), rib fat thickness (RFT; P=0.1873) and shear force (WBSF; P=0.9707). A lower FBW (P=0.0028), LMA (P=0.0048) and RFT (P=0.0001) were observed in feed restricted cows. However, no differences were found for CCY (P=0.7243) and WBSF (P=0.0759) among feeding level groups. These data suggests that carcass and meat quality traits are not affected by pregnancy status in Nellore cows. Moreover, although cows experiencing feed restriction did have reduced deposition of subcutaneous fat and lean tissue, there were no major impacts on meat quality traits.
authors: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, MG, Brazil. marcio_dsouza@hotmail.com
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Duarte
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Gionbelli
authors: P V R
authors: PV
authors: Paulino
authors: N V L
authors: NV
authors: Serão
authors: L H P
authors: LH
authors: Silva
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Mezzomo
authors: M V
authors: MV
authors: Dodson
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Du
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Busboom
authors: S E F
authors: SE
authors: Guimarães
authors: S C Valadares
authors: SC
authors: Filho
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001825:Body Fluid Compartments / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D002417:Cattle; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D013759:Dronabinol; C062018:HU 211