Beef cuts yield of steer carcasses graded according to conformation and weight

The experiment evaluated total and individual yield of commercial cuts, bones, and trimmings of carcasses from 38 Braford steers at 22 months of age finished in a feedlot. Carcasses were ranked according to three conformation classes (good minus = score 10; good = score 11; good plus = score 12), and three weight classes (heavy = 229.4 kg, intermediate = 205.0 kg, and light = 184.0 kg, ranging from 222.9 to 250.4, 201.5 to 209.0, and 170.0 to 190.3 kg, respectively). Carcass cold shrinkage was not affected by conformation, but it was significantly lower in heavy (1.83%) than in intermediate (2.53%) and in light carcasses (2.30%), which were not different among each other. Carcass flank percentage was not affected by conformation, but it was significantly higher in heavy (13.93%) and intermediate carcasses (13.87%) as compared to light carcasses (13.07%). Deboned beef cuts (78.08%) of carcasses of steers, bone (16.57%), and trimmings (5.23%) yields and losses due to deboning (0.12%) were not significantly affected by carcass weight. However, when they were evaluated according to conformation classes, those with better conformation showed higher meat cut yield (78.75 vs 77.92 and 77.29%). Conformation affects meat cut yield of carcasses of young steers while carcass weight does not show this characteristic. Avaliaram-se os rendimentos cárneos total e individual de cortes comerciais, de osso e de retalho de carcaças de 38 novilhos Braford com 22 meses de idade terminados em confinamento. As carcaças foram classificadas de acordo com três classes de conformação (boa menos = 10 pontos; boa = 11 pontos; e boa mais = 12 pontos) e três classes de peso (pesadas = 229,40 kg; medianas = 205,04 kg; e leves = 184,00 kg com variação, 222,9 a 250,4; 201,5 a 209,0; e 170,0 a 190,3 kg, respectivamente). A quebra no resfriamento não foi influenciada pela conformação, mas foi significativamente menor nas carcaças pesadas (1,83%) em comparação às medianas (2,53%) e leves (2,30%), que não diferiram entre si. A participação relativa da ponta-de-agulha não foi afetada pela conformação, mas foi significativamente maior nas carcaças pesadas (13,93%) e medianas (13,87%) em relação às leves (13,07%). Os rendimentos à desossa de cortes cárneos (78,08%) de osso (16,57%) e retalhos (5,23%) e as perdas inerentes ao processo da desossa (0,12%) não foram influenciados significativamente pelo peso das carcaças. Entretanto, quando avaliadas por classes de conformação, as carcaças de melhor