The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlations between the measurements obtained by ultrasound and from the carcass and follow the development of the ribeye and fat thickness in buffaloes at different feedlot stages. Twenty castrated, hornless Murrah buffaloes were used. The buffaloes were separated into four groups that were slaughtered at 75, 100, 125, 150 days of feedlot. The measurements taken by ultrasound when the buffaloes reached the slaughter point and from the carcass after the slaughter were ribeye, back fat thickness and rump fat thickness. The fat thickness was evaluated using a paquimeter and the ribeye was evaluated by using a quadrant grade ruler. The ribeye, back fat thickness and rump fat thickness presented a linear increase effect in function of the feedlot stages. The linear increase from 75 to 150 days of feedlot for ribeye, back fat thickness and rump fat thickness showed that the buffaloes had not reached maturity. The increase in the fat thickness measurement obtained in days of feedlot from the carcass and by ultrasound was similar between the back and rump. The correlations measured by ultrasound and from the carcass were 0.82 for ribeye and 0.85 for back fat thickness. The characteristics of the measurements taken by ultrasound, in buffaloes, correlated well with measurements at the time of slaughter, so that the alterations could be followed in these characteristics in castrated Murrah buffaloes from a dairy herd during their development.
fat thickness; ribeye; water buffaloes
