Growth Performance, Carcass and Meat Traits of Autochthonous Arouquesa Weaners Raised on Traditional and Improved Feeding Systems

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Animal production in mountain regions is changing and improvements to maintain autochthonous breeds and traditions should be defined. One of the strategies to add value and improve productivity is to produce meat with a PDO (protected denomination of origin) label. One example in Portugal is the Arouquesa PDO beef. This work aimed to compare different production systems and understand if they affect growth performance, carcass, and meat parameters for the Arouquesa PDO beef. Systems using supplementation had better results regarding live weight and average daily gain. The finishing period increased subcutaneous fat. The meat quality parameters differ in the improved production system with early weaning leading to lesser exudative and cooking losses. In conclusion, the traditional systems improved with practices, such as supplementation, can in turn improve meat production without affecting beef quality or PDO certification. This study demonstrates that improved production systems can advance the Arouquesa autochthonous breed production, while in turn maintaining the valued characteristics of a PDO product. ABSTRACT: Arouquesa is an autochthonous bovine breed known for its Arouquesa PDO beef labeling. There are several production systems under the definition of PDO labeling. This study aimed to compare the effect of different production systems on carcass and meat traits for the Arouquesa breed. Two trials differing in diet and weaning age were conducted. The first trial included a TF group fed the traditional way and weaned at 9 months; a TF + S1 group, equal to TF, but with a starter supplement; and finally, a S1 + S2 group that was fed with a starter and a growth supplement and weaned at 5 months. The second trial was composed of a TF + S3 group fed like the TF + S1 group but reared until 12 months with a finishing supplement, and finally, the S3 group fed like the S1 + S2 group but reared until 12 months. In the first trial, the TF + S1 and S1 + S2 groups showed higher final live weight and average daily gain. In the second trial, we observed differences in the subcutaneous fat that was higher in the S3 group. Regarding meat traits, we observed differences in exudative and cooking losses in the first trial. In general, supplementation improved meat production without affecting meat quality parameters.