Meat quality of eighteen Charolais steers, 30 months old, feedlot finished with different slaughter weights: T1 = 421 kg; T2 = 461 kg; and T3 = 495kg was evaluated. Meat marbling, color and texture did not differ among treatments. T1 meat showed higher thawing losses (8.1%) than T2 and T3 meat (4.8 and 5.1%, respectively), while cooking losses were higher in T2 meat than for T3. No statistical difference was observed among treatments for meat tenderness (panel or WB-Shear). Meat of higher slaughter weight steers was juicier and had better flavor.
Charolais; marbling; meat; slaughter weight; tenderness
