Traditional and silvipastoral system on Eastern Amazon - production and carcass and meat quality from buffalo

Abstract

The objective was to comparatively evaluate the physical and physico-chemical properties of buffaloes carcasses (Bubalus bubalis), Murrah/Mediterranean finished in Traditional System, with pasture and mineral supplements, with buffalo, from same race, finished in a Silvopastoral System, with mineral supplementation and diet composed of organic residues, in research unit of Embrapa Eastern Amazon, Belém, Para State, Brazil. The slaughter occurred in commercial slaughterhouse, following its normal flow, with quantitative and qualitative evaluations of the carcasses. The experimental design was randomized, with the data submitted to ANOVA and means compared using the ‘t’ test at 5% significance. Animals from Silvopastoral System slaughtered at weights similar to those of Traditional System in different ages, showed better carcass conformation and fat distribution, with significant differences (P<0.05) in marbling in the Longissimus dorsi muscle and weight of the hindquarters, with increased production of prime meat. Although the carcasses have submitted final pH within the limits of DFD meat (dark, firm and dry), the analysis of color and texture of meat allow us to consider normal quality.