PERFORMANCE, MORPHOLOGY AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF SINDHI BULLS ON AN OFFICIAL PASTURE-BASED GAIN PERFORMANCE TEST

Background. Beef cattle breeds need to be evaluated in pasture production systems. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the performance, morphology and carcass characteristics of Sindhi bulls on pasture. Methodology. Twenty Sindhi bulls belonging to eight different herds of the state of Rio Grande do Norte were evaluated on an official weight gain test conducted by the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders (ABCZ). The experiment lasted for 294 days, including an adaptation period of 70 days. The animals were managed under a rotational grazing system, with periods of occupation of 20 days. Records of body weight and scrotal circumference measurements were taken every 56 days. Carcass evaluation and visual assessment were performed at the last weighing. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, simple linear correlation and means test. Results. The final body weight, average daily gain and scrotal circumference gain reached 304.60 kg, 0.482 kg/day and 10.29 cm, respectively. The loin eye area and intramuscular fat averaged 52.36 cm² and 1.25%, respectively. Significant and positive correlations between carcass ultrasound parameters were observed. Moreover, a positive and significant correlation between loin eye area and visual assessment was reported. There was no effect (P>0.05) of initial body weight on carcass characteristics, performance and visual assessment. Implications. Sindhi breed cattle are efficient in producing meat when fed exclusively with pasture, but need more genetic work that focuses on the deposition of adipose tissue in more valued regions of the carcass. Conclusions. The pasture-based gain performance test demonstrates the hardiness of the Sindhi breed, and the carcass evaluation validates the breed's aptitude for meat production and their precocity in depositing muscles.