The objective of this study was to evaluate carcass traits and meat quality of Tabapuã and Bonsmara purebred steers, and crossbred ½ Bonsmara + ½ Nellore and ½ Bonsmara + ¼ Red Angus + ¼ Nellore steers. Five animals were used in each genetic group. The average age and weight at the beginning of the experiment were 22 months and 394±21 kg. All animals received the same diet, which was composed of sugar cane silage and a commercial ration, in a ratio of 55 and 45% (dry matter basis), respectively, with 14.99 crude protein and 59.84% total digestible nutrients. There were no differences between the genetic groups for cold carcass weight or percentages of commercial cuts (forequarter, hindquarter and sidequarter) at slaughter. Bonsmara steers presented the greatest ribeye area and percentage of muscle, and the lowest percentage of fat in the carcass. Crossbred ½ Bonsmara + ½ Nellore animals presented greater back fat thickness (BFT) than Bonsmara and Tabapuã animals; however, all genetic groups presented BFT greater than the minimum (3 mm) required by the meat industry. There was no difference in the meat centesimal composition between genetic groups. Meat from Bonsmara, ½ Bonsmara + ½ Nellore and ½ Bonsmara + ¼ Red Angus + ¼ Nellore presented greater tenderness than that from Tabapuã steers. The longissimus fat acid profile did not differ between the genetic groups studied. Meat from Bonsmara and crossbred ½ Bonsmara + ½ Nellore and ½ Bonsmara + ¼ Red Angus + ¼ Nellore animals presented greater quality than that from Tabapuã steers.
Bonsmara; crossbreeding; fat; fatty acids; Tabapua; tenderness
