Relative growth and gain composition of carcass tissues from young Mediterranean buffaloes slaughtered at different weights

Thirty-two non castrated Mediterranean male buffaloes were used, being divided into five groups (categories). One group was randomly assigned to immediate slaughter, four groups were fully fed with ration containing 70% of concentrate, dry matter basis until reaching the slaughter weights of 450, 480, 510 and 540 kg. Regression equations of log content of carcass and their tissues (muscle, adipose tissue and bone) were adopted as a function of log empty-body-weight. Carcass presented positive allometry value close to 1, reflecting development proportionally equal to the empty-body-weight. Deriving the equations above, the prediction equations of body components in the body gain of 1 kg of the empty-body-weight were obtained. In the carcass, the adipose tissue presented late growth while bone and muscular tissues developed in an earlier age.