Physicochemical characterization and lipid profile of meat from crossbred steers receiving different supplementation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the carcass characteristics and the physicochemical parameters, centesimal composition, and fatty acid profile of the longissimus lumborum muscle of crossbred steers on a Brachiaria (Syn. Uruchloa) brizantha cv. Marandu pasture during the growing and finishing phases. Twenty-two uncastrated steers ½ Holstein/Zebu, with an average initial weight of 210 kg ± 8.2 kg and eight months of age, were distributed in a completely randomized design, in which the experimental period was fractionated in to three seasons associated with two nutritional plans (NP1 and NP2) and 11 animals by treatment: NP1– mineral mixture ad libitum in rainy seasons + nitrogen/energy supplement at 1 g.kg–1 body weight (BW) in the dry season; and NP2 – nitrogen/energy supplement at 2 g.kg–1 BW in rainy season 1 and in the dry season + nitrogen/energy supplement at 1 g.kg–1 BW in rainy season 2, provided daily at 1000 h. Of the carcass measurements, differences were only observed (p>0.05) between the nutritional plans for loin-eye area corrected for 100 kg of hot carcass weight. Among the physicochemical parameters, only shear force was influenced (p>0.05) by the treatments, with higher values obtained in Nutritional Plan 1. The centesimal composition and fatty acid profile were not influenced (P<0.05) by supplementation. Nutritional plans used in the growing and finishing phases involving low levels of protein-energy supplementation do not lead to changes significant in carcass characteristics and meat. Nutritional Plan 1 is the most appropriate because it presents a lower cost.