Comparison of dental carcass maturity in non-castrated male F1 Angus-Nellore cattle finished in feedlot

Dental classification of carcasses is used as a parameter of cattle maturity at slaughter, and it can influence carcass and meat quality traits. Brazilian beef-packing companies use the number of permanent incisor (P.I.) teeth as a parameter for bonus and certification of carcasses with superior quality. However, when non-castrated male such as F1 Angus-Nellore (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) are slaughtered, only animals without P.I. teeth are subsidized by the breed association. We evaluated these animals finished in feedlot for 180 days with zero versus two P.I. teeth on the carcass and meat quality traits. At the time of slaughter, 88 carcasses were selected, forming two treatments according to dental carcass maturity (0 versus 2 P.I. teeth; 44 animals per category). It was demonstrated that the number of P.I. teeth (0 versus 2 P.I.) did not influence (P > 0.05) carcass (weights, yield, cooling loss, ribeye area and the backfat thickness) and meat quality traits (Longissimus thoracis chemical composition, color, cooking losses, shear force and pH). Thus, dental carcass maturity (zero versus two P.I. teeth) does not influence non-castrated male F1 Angus-Nellore finished in feedlot for 180 days. This is the first study to demonstrate that carcasses of non-castrated male F1 Angus-Nellore with two P.I. teeth should be subsidized in a similar way to those with zero P.I. teeth. Moreover, Brazilian beef-packing companies could produce heavier and leaner carcasses of acceptable quality though the use of crossbred cattle such as non-castrated F1 Angus Nellore.