<b>How does the dietary cottonseed hull affect the carcass characteristics and meat quality of young bulls finished in a high-concentrate diet?

• Main Authors: Carlos Emanuel Eiras, Mariana Garcia Ornaghi, Maribel Velandia Valero, Dayane Cristina Rivaroli, Ana Guerrero, Ivanor Nunes do Prado
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Eduem) 2016-08-01
• Series: Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences
• Subjects: alternative foods; co-products; feedlot; high-grain; young bulls.
• Online Access: http://periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciAnimSci/article/view/32149
• ISSN: 1806-2636; 1807-8672

This study evaluated the effects of diets composed by cottonseed hull and meat aging on carcass characteristics and meat quality from young bulls fed on a high-concentrate system. Thirty crossbred bulls were assigned in a complete randomized experimental factorial design with three diets (CH21: cottonseed hull 210 g kg-1on a DM basis, CH27: cottonseed hull 270 g kg-1on a DM basis and CH33: cottonseed hull 330 g kg-1on a DM basis) and different aging times (24 hours and 3, 7 and 14 days). Meat from CH27 diets presented smaller LM moisture content (p < 0.05). Total lipids were smaller in CH33 diet (p <0.05). At 24 hours, CH21 diet presented smaller LM cooking loss than other diets. The increasing aging time reduced the shear force (p < 0.001) on the LM. Meat from CH27 diet presented the highest luminosity (p < 0.05) and yellowness values (p < 0.001). Three or seven aging days presented smaller values of LM luminosity. Likewise, the increasing aging time presented greater (p < 0.05) yellowness within the LM. Lipid oxidation was lower from CH21 diet (p < 0.001). The fatty acid composition on LM was similar among diets. The use of cottonseed hull could be useful strategies to improve the meat quality and lean beef production.