CARACTERÍSTICAS DE CARCAÇA DE VACAS DE DESCARTE ALIMENTADAS COM TORTA DE DENDÊ

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the inclusion of palm kernel cake on the carcass characteristics of feedlot cull cows.36 crossbred Holstein x Zebu cows were used. The animals went through a period of adaptation to diets, stalls and handling of 20 days and 70 days for data collection. The animals were fed sugarcane bagasse in natura and concentrated. The treatments consisted of: 0% = control (no palm kernel cake inclusion); 8%, 16% and 24% inclusion of palm kernel cake in the dry matter of the diet. final body weight and warm carcass weight were affected by the inclusion of palm kernel cake in the diet, showing a quadratic response. The warm carcass yield was influenced by the diets, presenting decreasing linear response. The addition of palm kernel cake positively influences the main parameters evaluated for carcass quality.