Effect of sex and maturity on the hot carcass weight, conformation and finish of cattle slaughtered in Sinop, Mato Grosso State, Brazil

Abstract

The classification and typing can be used to group carcasses with similar characteristics, accordingto criteria of gender, maturity, weight, finishing and conformation to standardize the quality and meatyields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gender and maturity on the hot carcassweight, finishing and conformation in bovines slaughtered. During 4 days in January 2011, data of2662 bovine carcass from slaughterhouse located in Sinop, Mato Grosso State, Brazil was analyzedto describe the characteristics of beef carcasses from this region. Females represented 60.86% ofslaughters; castrated and non-castrated were 19.91$ and 19.23%, respectively. Analyzing the dataobserved high maturity of slaughtered animals, independent of gender. Oldest animals presentedincrease of average carcass weight, as well as the deposition of fat in the carcass, the exceptionwere non-castrated male that not showed a direct relationship between maturity and finishing.Results of non-castrated males and females had difference (P<0.05) in conformation according tothe maturity. Therefore, data showed that regardless of gender, the animals had increase of weight,conformation and finishing proportional to the increasing maturity.