Effect of Early Weaning Strategies Combined with Supplementation on Performance and Meat Quality of Pasture-Finished Nellore Cattle

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of early weaning followed by supplementation on performance, carcass, and meat quality traits of Nellore cattle. Forty male calves were assigned to early weaning (n = 20) at 120 d or conventional weaning (n = 20) at 205 d. The early weaning group received protein–energy supplementation (20% CP; 78% TDN) at 10 g/kg body weight (BW)/day until 205 d of age; thereafter, both groups were maintained on pasture. During the growing phase (up to 693 d), both groups received 3 g/kg BW/day of protein–energy, and 5g/kg BW/day during the finishing phase (up to 915 d). After 915 d, animals were slaughtered for carcass trait evaluation, and Longissimus thoracis samples were collected between the 12th and 13th ribs for meat quality analysis. Although there was no significant difference in BW at 205 d between treatments, the early weaning treatment showed higher average daily gain between 205 and 693 d (P = 0.009). Nevertheless, BW at the end of each phase was similar across treatments throughout all periods. Early weaning animals had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on hot carcass weight, backfat thickness, ribeye area, intramuscular fat, or meat quality parameters, including pH, color, purge losses, cooking losses, water-holding capacity, shear force, and malonaldehyde. Meat from animals submitted to conventional weaning tended to contain a greater concentration (P < 0.10) of iso-14:0, anteiso-15:0, and the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomer CLA-c9t11, despite a lower n-6:n-3 ratio. Higher concentrations of phosphorus and sulfur were observed in the early weaning group. Aging time influenced (P < 0.05) meat color and lipid oxidation regardless of treatment, with a reduction in a* and chroma values and an increase in hue angle and malonaldehyde levels. In conclusion, early weaning resulted in carcass and meat quality traits similar to those observed for the conventional weaning management in pasture-finished Nellore cattle.