Desempenho zootécnico e qualidade de carne de novilhas Nelore e F1 Nelore X Angus recriadas em diferentes sistemas de integração lavoura-pecuária consorciados com Guandu

Abstract

Strategies as crop livestock integration (CLI) has been adopted in production systems aiming to enhance the productivity capacity of livestock in the previous explored areas, maximizing the land use efficiency. The success of this technological solution on livestock depends on many factors, as use of adequate genetic resource, management and nutritional planning according to the seasons of the year. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the quality of final product even it is not direct related to economic yield, because this can be a decisive factor to commercialization in a more competitive and demanding market. So, this work aimed to evaluate the production performance and meat and carcass traits of Nellore and Nellore x Angus (F1) heifers reared in two forage production systems (one with crop livestock integration, named as high input, and other as sole livestock system, named as low input). Inside each system, three different treatments were evaluated, involving intercropping with Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) in both systems, and intercropping with corn (Zea mays) in CLI system. The F1 animals had higher carcass weight, yield and body weight gain than Nellore animals. F1 animals showed better carcass and meat quality traits compared to Nellore. The high input systems showed higher carcass weights and body weight gains. The integrated systems proportionated higher yield and meat quality. Inside both forage production systems, the intercropping with pigeon pea proportionated higher yield per area. In conclusion, the pigeon pea is an interesting leguminous forage option to livestock production systems, showing positive results in both forage production systems. The F1 animals are an important genetic resource for enhancing the system productivity.