Organs and carcass non-integrant components of Holstein calves, slaughtered at different weights, held in different finishing systems

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the weight of the empty body and non-integrant components of Holstein calves carcass, kept in confinement system or pasture, slaughtered at different weights. We used 43 Holstein calves, entire, age and initial body weight of approximately 58 days and 57 kg, distributed entirely at random in confinement or cultivated pasture. In feeding systems, it was pre-stipulated four slaughter weights (SW - 140, 180, 220 and 260 kg of live weight). In confinement, were provided corn silage and concentrate based on corn meal and soybean meal, in the ratio 40:60. The other animals in ryegrass pasture, followed by pearl millet, were fed based in supplementation of corn bran and soybean meal to 1% of live weight. The EBW showed linear growth with increasing slaughter weight (SW), as well as income from hot and cold carcass and there was no effect in relation EBW/ SW. The leather, the scraps, the head, the legs, as well as the sum of external components showed growth in its absolute weight as the weight increased at the slaughter of animals. In relative terms, the hot and cold carcass yields were inversely correlated with the relative weights, as well as external components (- 0.68 and - 0.81), the heart (- 0.35 and -0, 38) lungs (- 0.53 and - 0.53), the sum of the gastrointestinal tract (-0.75 and - 0.77), the sum of vital organs (- 0.71 to - 0.75) respectively in feedlot and pasture. This is due to the different ages that the animals were slaughtered (200; 237; 251 and 263 days of age), due to pre-stipulate weights. The absolute weights of heart, kidney, lungs, liver, spleen, gall bladder, reproductive tract and gastrointestinal tract accompanied the increase in weight at animal’s slaughter. However, when grouped, showed no difference related to the increase in weight at slaughter. The differences presented by the liver, trachea and spleen were sufficient to alter the absolute and relative weights of the set of internal components, where the animals finished on pasture had higher weight. The animals finished on pasture had higher absolute weights (0.48 against 1.18 kg) and relatives (0.31 and 0.79%).