Internal organs and gastrointestinal tract of feedlot finished steers of advanced generations of rotational crossbreeding between Charolais and Nellore

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of heterosis and genetic group on the yield and weight of internal organs and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of feedlot purebred (Charolais - C and Nellore - N) and crossbred steers from second (G2) (3/4C 1/4N and 3/4N 1/4C), third (G3) (5/8C 3/8N and 5/8N 3/8C) and fourth (G4) (11/16C 5/16N and 11/16N 5/16C) generations of rotational crossbreeding slaughtered at 23 month of age. Crossbred steers from G2, G3 and G4 had, respectively, 14.95, 17.25 and 18.46% higher empty body weight (EBW) than that from purebred animals. A positive heterosis for cold carcass yield expressed as a proportion of EBW (CCYEBW) was observed in G2, G3, and G4. Weights of heart, lungs, and kidneys adjusted for EBW were lower on crossbred compared to purebred steers; the heterosis was significant for the weights of heart (-18.29%) and kidneys (-14.29%) in G3 and for that of lungs (-13.45%) in G4. Weights of all organs of the GIT either expressed as 100 kg of EBW or as proportion of slaughter body weight (SBW) were lower on crossbred than on purebred steers with the exception of rumen weight in G2. Retained heterosis was positive and significant for EBW, CCYEBW and liver weight. However, it was negative for amount of blood and weights of heart and small plus large intestines when expressed as 100 kg of EBW and SBW. Within purebred animals, N showed greater CCYEBW (61.64%) than C (57.09). Conversely, weights of rumen, abomasum, small plus large intestine, and GIT were all higher on C than N steers; excepting for small plus large intestine, the same was observed when weights of the remaining GIT components were expressed as proportion of EBW and SB. These differences partially explain the increased carcass yield on N steers.