The objective ofthis trial was to evaluate the animal performance, carcass characteristics andmeat tenderness of 36 crossbred steers averaging 14 months old and 320 kg bodyweight. The animals were fed high concentrate-based diets: control - withoutadditional fat (CO); diet with 5% calcium salt of fatty acids (AG); and dietwith 21% whole cottonseed (CA). Dry matter intake of AG treatment was lower(P=0,05) than CA, that differ from CO diet. No significant differences of treatmentson daily weight gain and feed efficiency were observed. Blood urea nitrogenwas greater (P=0,01) for CA treatment than AG treatment. Carcass dressing, ribeye area, fat thickness, kidney and pelvic fat, liver weight, pH and temperaturedid not show significant difference. No difference on water loss during cookingand tenderness measured by shear force at different aging times was detected.Diets with 5% calcium salt of fatty acids or 21% whole cottonseed can be usedfor feedlot with no change on animal performance or carcass characteristics.
