The aim of this work was to study the effect of the different proportions of blood Simmental and Nellore on meat and carcass characteristics of bovine young bulls. Seventy two young bulls were used (18 Nellore; 18 ½ Simmental x Nellore; 18 Simbrasil and 18 Simmental), with medium age of 8 months and with average 250 kg LW initial. The animals were weaned at 8 months of age in system creep-feeding and later confined for 150 days until they reach the slaughter weight above 465 kg and slaughtered in commercial abattoir. The pH values and temperature during carcass cooling was similar for all of the genetic groups. In the same way, the variables cold carcass, forequarter and hindquarter, did not show any differences among the genetic groups. The beef cuts were quite homogeneous, excepting the strip loin and the tenderloin that were larger perceptually for Simmental. The Nellore and ½ Simmental breeds presented larger shear force (4.98 and 4.45 kgf) than Simmental and Simbrasil (3.13 and 3.33 kgf). However, after the meat ageing for 7 days, no differences were verified among the groups for tenderness values. The losses by evaporation and leaking were higher for non aged Simmental and Simbrasil beef cuts; however, seven days of ageing those losses showed no differences. The system of production of young bulls bovines produces carcasses and cuts similar among the different breed studied. With seven days of maturation Nellore meat tenderness was similar to the other genetic groups used in this study.
commercial cuts; Nellore; pH; shear force; Simmental
