Fourteen quantitative carcass traits of 137 Canchim; 5/8 Charolais + 3/8 Zebu, (Ca), Aberdeen Angus (Ab), 3/4Ca+1/4Ab, 3/4Ab+1/4Ca, 5/8Ca+3/8Ab and 5/8Ab+3/8Ca, born at Est. Exp. Fazenda Modelo, in Ponta Grossa-PR, Brazil, from 1988 to 1993, were analyzed. Averages for age at beginning of confinement, initial weight, length of confinement period, final age and final weight were, respectively, 737 days, 356kg, 97 days, 834 days and 468kg. During the confinement period the animals were fed corn silage ad libitum plus a concentrate ration (79% TDN, 17,8% CP) offered on the basis of 1% of animal live weight per day. The results showed that Ca and Ab differed with respect to all traits, except side cut percentage. Ca was superior to Ab for hot carcass weight (PCQ), dressing percentage (RCQ), area of eye muscle (AOL), conformation score, percentage of lean tissue (PEM), weight of eatable portion (PPC) and hot carcass weight per day of life at slaughter (PCQ/DDV). Ab animals had thicker fat cover over rib eye (EGC) and higher percentages of fat and of bones in the carcass than Ca animals. There was heterotic response for PCQ, RCQ, AOL, PPC and PCQ/DDV. The two advanced crisscross Ca x Ab generations performed better than parental average for PCQ, RCQ, AOL, PPC and PCQ/DDV. Performance of a rotational Ca x Ab crossbreeding system would be superior to that of any of the paternal breeds.
Canchim; Aberdeen angus; crossbreeding; carcass
