Efeito do mérito genético para acabamento de carcaça e da raça paterna sobre o desempenho, expressão gênica e qualidade da carne de novilhos de corte

Abstract

Subcutaneous fat deposition in beef cattle is great relevance and the genetic value of breeding breeds can contribute to the understanding and efficient control of this trait in beef production systems. The objective was to evaluate the effects of genetic merit for finishing (GMF) on animal performance, production and meat quality of Nellore or crossbred (½ Aberdeen Angus + ½ Nellore) steers. Animals were obtained by mating Nellore sires with Nellore (N) or Aberdeen Angus (AN) bulls. Both sire genetic groups were selected to have positive (+, high MGA) or negative (-, low GMF) expected progeny differences for backfat thickness (EPDbf). A randomized block design with a factorial arrangement of treatments 2 (high x low GMF) x 2 (N x AN) was employed. Three studies were conducted. In the first, 76 animals (14 N +, 20 N-, 20 AN + and 22 AN-) were used in a pasture growing system and finishing of non-castrated steers in feedlot. In this study, performance, feeding behavior in feedlot, gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and carcass characteristics were evaluated. The animals were slaughtered, and SAT samples were collected to study the relative expression of ACC, ADIPOQ, FASN, PLIN, PPARɣ and SREBP1 genes. Carcasses were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The second study, 172 animals (34 N +, 33 N-, 46 AN + and 59 AN-) were used in growing and finishing pasture-based systems. In this study, performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated at the end of growing phase (by ultrasound) and at slaughter. The third experiment, 214 steers (48 N +, 53 N, 51 AN + and 62 AN-) were used and the physicochemical characteristics of meat and its linear correlations with the subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) were evaluated. In meat samples prior maturation and matured for 14 days the pH, color (L*, a*, b*) losses by exudation and cooking (CL) and shear force (SF) were analyzed. Meat moisture and intramuscular fat (IMF) concentrations were determined. GMF did not influence (P < 0.05) performance, feedlot behavior and the relative expression of the studied genes. High GMF animals showed greater (P < 0.05) SFT, finishing scores, conformation scores and fat distribution scores in carcass compared to low MGA steers. The SFT and relative expression of ACC, PLIN, PPARɣ genes were higher (P < 0.05) in SAT of AN steers in relation to N. MGA did not influence (P > 0.05) the physicochemical and meat composition traits. Associations between SFT and attributes of pH, a *, CL and SF were significant (P < 0.05), however, with low magnitude. The GMF makes possible to obtain steers with finishing degree without influencing performance, feeding behavior and physicochemical meat attributes. The difference in fat deposition on carcass obtained by MGA is not related to the relative expression of studied genes.