CONCENTRATE LEVELS AND BABASSU MESOCARP BRAN ON CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF FEEDLOT BULLS

The objective was to evaluate the carcass characteristics of feedlot bulls fed levels of concentrate (65 and 71%) with or without the inclusion of 35% of babassu mesocarp bran (BMB) in concentrate fraction of the diet. Twenty eight young bulls were used, with initial age of 21 month and 356.7 +/- 19.2 kg of initial body weight. The experimental design was completely randomized design with treatments in a factorial arrangement 2x2. Hot and cold carcass weights were not affected by dietary concentrate level and the inclusion of BMB in the concentrate, with average values of 256.39 and 245.87 kg, respectively. Hot and cold carcass yield were lower for diets that associated the lower level of concentrate and 35% of BMB in the concentrate fraction of the diet. Subcutaneous fat thickness, conformation and carcass physiological maturity were not affected by concentrate level and the inclusion of the BMB, averaging 3.6 mm, 10.89 and 12.93 points respectively. The inclusion of 35% of BMB in the concentrate associated with different levels of concentrates did not alter commercial cuts weight. The inclusion of 35% of the BMB in the concentrate fraction of diets with high concentrate for feedlot bulls does not change the carcass characteristics of economic interest, providing production of carcasses with adequate quality.