The non-carcass components of steers from Brahman, Brangus and Hereford finished in feedlot or pasture with supplementation (mombaça grass) were evaluated. The animals were finished when subcutaneous fat thickness was over 4mm. The feedlot diets have roughage:concentrate ratio of 60: 40, with 13% CP crude protein and 62% TDN. The level of CP of mombaça grass was 7% with 56% TDN, and the supplement was 24% CP and 76% TDN. The experimental design was completely randomized with a 3x2 factorial arrangement (three genetic groups and two finishing systems) and means was compared by adjust Tukey test. Significant difference was observed for the slaughter weight (SW) and empty body weight (EBW) in steers maintained at pasture with supplementation. (409.68 versus 375.24kg of empty body weight), however, no differences were observed with the percentage of empty body dressing percentage (EBD). Brahman steers has the lowest percentage of vital organs independent of finishing system (2.19%). Same trend was showed for the total empty digestive tract with 3.77% for Brahman steers vs 4.87 and 4.48% EBW of Hereford and Brangus. The Brahman steers had lower weights of heart, lung and spleen than the Hereford and Brangus. Animals finished on pasture had greater weight of abomasums lung and kidneys than animals finished on feedlot 0.47 vs 0.35% EBW; 0.77 vs 0.71% EBW and 0.77 vs 0.71% EBW, respectively.
external components; fat; gut; leather; liver