Bovinocultura, análise da influência da classificação de carcaças: contribuições para a competitividade da carne bovina brasileira no exterior

Abstract

Brazil, as one of the world's leading producers and exporters of beef, faces the challenge of standardizing carcass quality to meet the demands of highly competitive international markets. Traditionally, carcass classification is performed after slaughter using subjective visual assessment methods, which may compromise the reliability of the results. In this context, the present study proposes the use of in vivo ultrasonography to obtain precise measurements of body composition and marbling prior to slaughter.The main objective was to apply statistical methods capable of evaluating the correlation between parameters measured by ultrasonography in live cattle, analyzing their potential contribution to the proposed revision of the Brazilian national carcass classification and grading system. The methodology consisted of an observational study involving 619 ultrasound image measurements collected between 2023 and 2024 from farms located in the western region of Paraná State, Brazil. The analyzed attributes included intramuscular fat index (marbling), ribeye area (REA), backfat thickness (BFT), and live weight. The results indicated that REA and BFT were the factors that contributed most significantly to the differentiation among carcass classes. In contrast, live weight alone showed a lower discriminatory effect. Simulations conducted using the Classibov criteria demonstrated that many animals originally classified into lower categories possessed characteristics compatible with higher-grade classes, suggesting potential for increased economic value and improved producer remuneration. It can be concluded that the integration of ultrasonographic measurements enhances the accuracy of in vivo carcass grading, reducing classification and bonus-payment errors while providing quantitative support for the implementation of the Classibov system. Such modernization is essential to improve commercialization standards and ensure the competitiveness of Brazilian beef in the global market.