This study was made in order to evaluate the principal components of carcass characteristics in Zebu cattle and variation factors for injuries. We used a database with information from 15,002 carcasses of Zebu cattle. The variables studied were hot carcass weight, carcass conformation, fat thickness score, sexual condition, number of teeth, injuries and distance from the farm to the slaughterhouse. We also raised the finishing system of cattle through information obtained from the technician responsible for the herd. To understand the relationship of the variables, we used the correlation of the principal components and original variables, the factorial plans, the unit circle, cluster analysis and non-parametric tests. The fat thickness score, sexual condition, hot carcass weight, the number of teeth, and farm comprised 68.26% of the total variability. The carcasses conformation and the finishing system explained a low proportion of the variability. Variables as farm, number of teeth, finishing system and fat thickness score influenced the number of injuried carcasses. The sexual condition, hot carcass weight and carcass conformation did not change the proportion of injuried carcasses.
Carcass classification; bulls; oxen; contusions; hematomas.
