Animal performance and carcass characteristics of criollo heifers fed in a feedlot

The objective was to evaluate animal performance and carcass characteristics of criollo heifers fed in a feedlot. Nineteen heifers calves were used (8 months old and initial body weight: 125 +/- 18 kg). Feedlot phases were: growing (90 d), feedlot (90 d), and finishing (56 d). Dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (FE), slaughter, hot and cold carcass weights (SW, HCC, CCW, respectively) and hot and cold carcass performance (HCP, CCP, respectively) were evaluated. Data was analyzed by MEANS procedure of SAS. Average daily gain was: growing: 0.63 +/- 0.01 kg, feedlot: 0.80 +/- 0.01 kg and finishing: 0.68 +/- 0.01 kg. Dry matter intake was: growing: 5.5 +/- 0.54 kg, feedlot: 7.45 +/- 0.62 kg and finishing: 6.18 +/- 0.65 kg. Gain efficiency was: growing: 8.76 +/- 0.81 kg, feedlot: 9.40 +/- 0.88 kg and finishing: 8.90 +/- 0.93 kg. Hot and cold carcass weight were: 141.84 +/- 4.7 kg; and 140.4 +/- 4.7 kg respectively. Hot and cold carcass performance were: 52.7 +/- 1.18% y 52.3 +/- 1.24 % respectively. It is recommended to consider the animal<acute accent>s age when criollo cattle is fed in a feedlot.