Glycerine levels in the diets of crossbred bulls finished in feedlot: Carcass characteristics and meat quality

The effects of corn replacement by different glycerine levels on carcass characteristics and meat quality of 40 young Puruna bulls, weighing 209 +/- 333 kg and 8 +/- 0.9 months old, finished in feedlot, were evaluated. The treatments were G00: without glycerine; G06: 6% glycerine; G12: 12% glycerine; and G18: 18% glycerine in the diets, on a DM basis. Hot weight, dressing, conformation and length carcass, leg length and cushion thickness were not (P>0.05) modified by different glycerine levels in the diets. Glycerine in the diets did not (P>0.05) affect fat thickness, Longissimus muscle area, marbling and texture. Muscle, fat and bone percentages were not (P>0.05) influenced by glycerine levels in the diets. No changes (P>0.05) in lightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) on LM occurred when glycerine was included at 0, 6, 12 or 18% in the diet. There was no (P> 0.05) difference in LM moisture, ash, crude protein and total lipids when feeding different glycerine levels. The inclusion of glycerine decreased (P<0.01) total saturated (10.8%), and increased monounsaturated (7.4%) and poly-unsaturated (44.0%) fatty acids, which resulted in a higher PUFA:SFA ratio (0.57). (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.