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- Title
Effects of Early Weaning on Performance and Carcass Quality of Nellore Young Bulls.
- Authors
Abitante, Gabriela; Leme, Paulo Roberto; de Paula Carlis, Matheus Sousa; Ramírez-Zamudio, Germán Darío; Gomes, Bianca Izabelly Pereira; de Andrade, Luiza Budasz; Goulart, Rodrigo Silva; Pugliesi, Guilherme; Saran Netto, Arlindo; Dahlen, Carl Robertson; Silva, Saulo Luz
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Early weaning is a practice that holds the potential to enhance beef cattle production systems. It aims to improve the reproductive performance of cows in the subsequent breeding season while minimizing the impact on weaned calves when they are appropriately nutritionally managed. This study aimed to compare the effects of early weaning (weaning at 150 days; EW) and conventional weaning (weaning at 240 days; CW) on the growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Nellore bulls. A total of 74 non-castrated calves were assigned to an EW (n = 37) or CW (n = 37) strategy. During approximately 400 days in the growth phase, both groups received supplementation during grazing, followed by a finishing period in a feedlot for 87 days. The results showed that calves in the EW group were lighter than the CW group at the time of conventional weaning, yet this weight difference did not impact their growth or meat quality during the fattening phase. This study suggests that early weaning, combined with adequate supplementation, can be a viable and sustainable approach in beef cattle production without compromising the animals' productive development or meat quality. This study compared early weaning (EW; 150 days) with conventional weaning (CW; 240 days) in Nellore young bulls, evaluating performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. A total of 74 non-castrated male calves were divided into two weaning strategies: EW (n = 37) and CW (n = 37). During the growth phase, which lasted 454 ± 14 d for EW calves and 359 ± 16 d for CW calves, animals received a protein-energy supplement at a ratio of 5 g per kg of body weight while grazing Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. The animals were managed for an 87d finishing phase in three collective feedlot pens, with a 3-week adaptation protocol, starting with corn silage to a concentrate ratio of 55:45 and reaching a ratio of 30:70 in the final diet. Body weight, average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), feed efficiency (FE), carcass characteristics, and meat quality were evaluated. The EW group was approximately 44 kg lighter than the CW at the time of conventional weaning (p < 0.001). However, this weight difference did not influence ADG, DMI, and FE in the finishing phase. No significant differences were observed in carcass characteristics such as yield percentage, loin area, subcutaneous fat thickness, and meat quality, except for the weight of primal cuts, which was greater in the CW group (p < 0.001). Thus, although calves weaned early are lighter throughout subsequent production phases than those weaned conventionally, performance, efficiency, carcass yield, and meat quality are not affected.
- Subjects
ANIMAL weaning; BEEF industry; MEAT quality; CATTLE breeding; BEEF cattle; ANIMAL nutrition
- Publication
Animals (2076-2615), 2024, Vol 14, Issue 5, p779
- ISSN
2076-2615
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ani14050779