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Internal organs and digestive tract of non-castrated or castrate young steers of two genotypes

The characteristics of non-integrant parts of carcass of steers with two sexual conditions - castrated and non-castrated - with Charolais or Nellore genetic predominance were evaluated. The average age and inicial weight were 12 months old and 267kg, respectively. The steers were feedlot finished until slaughter weight of 400kg. The experimental diet was formulated in a roughage:concentrate ratio 50:50 (dry matter basis), with 10% crude protein. A completely randomized experimental design in a 2x2 factorial arrangement (two sexual conditions and two genetic groups) was used. Significant interaction between genotypes and sexual conditions of steers was observed for the omasum absolute weight. The non-castrated animals showed heavier kidneys (0.81 versus 0.66kg) and abomasums (1.20 versus 1.00kg) and intestines in comparisson to castrated animals. Genotypes with Charolais predominance showed heavier omasums (4.24 versus 3.46kg), intestines (8.18 versus 6.84kg), and the total digestive tract (16.88 versus 14.90kg) in relation to animals with Nellore predominance. No significant correlation between carcass dressing percentage and non-integrant parts of carcass was observed.

beef cattle; sexual condition; genotypes; empty body weight


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