The non-carcass components of castrated and non-castrated cattle (sex condition) finished in feedlot and slaughtered at 16 (super young) or 26 (young) months of age (animal category) were evaluated. The diet was formulated to contain 11.8% of CP and 2.83 Mcal/kg DM of DE with 50:50 forage to concentrate ratio (%MS). Super young animals showed higher of empty body dressing percentage (92.39 versus 89.76%), as a result of their lower gastrointestinal content (35.23 versus 53.46 kg) as compared to the young animals. Non-castrate animals showed higher head weight (13.84 versus 12.35 kg), feet (11.12 versus 8.96 kg) and rawhide (46.44 versus 37.71 kg) as compared to castrate animals, which are related to their higher body weight (541.26 versus 445.47 kg). There was influence of animal category x sex condition interaction on absolute weight of vital organs (heart, liver and lungs) and the gastrointestinal tract components (GIT). The total weight of vital organs and GIT was higher in non-castrate animals, but not significant when adjusted for empty body weight and slaughter weight. Super young animals showed higher absolute internal fat weight (25.91 versus 20.13 kg) and hot fat trim (13.96 versus 10.98 kg). The castration of animals resulted in higher participation of internal fat calculated on empty body weight and slaughter weight.
beef cattle; external organs; gastrointestinal tract; hot fat trim; internal organs
