The characteristics of the body parts non-integrant of the carcass of 5/8 Nellore 3/8 Charolais steers feedlot finished and slaughtered with 425, 467 and 510 kg, were evaluated. The feeding periods were 30, 65 and 94 days, respectively. The average initial age and weight were 660 days and 361 kg, respectively. The diet, with 60% roughage and 40% concentrate dry matter basis (DM), contained 10.25% of crude protein and 3.18 Mcal of digestible energy/kg DM. According to regression equation estimate, the hot and cold carcass dressing increased as slaughter weight (SW) increased. However, when expressed per empty body weight (EBW), similarity among the different treatments was verified. When the components were expressed in absolute values, rawhide, total external components (TEC), liver, total vital organs (TVO), total internal fats (TFAT) and total empty gastrintestinal tract (TEGT) showed increase with increase in SW. When expressed per 100 kg of body weight and EBW, the rawhide, TEC, liver and TEGT components showed similarity; heart and TVO showed decrease; and TFAT showed increase, with increase in SW. Positive correlations between liver weight with dry matter intake (r=.91) and with net energy maintenance (NEm) (r=.91), and between TFAT with NEm (r=.78) were observed.
crossbreds; dry matter intake; empty body weight; fat; liver; slaughter weight
