1. Introduction
Beef production in Brazil is becoming more efficient because utilization
of technologies that permits reduction of the production cycle.
Crossbreeding has been used as a tool to reduce the time-frame of
beef production, since crossbred animals are more precocious than
purebred Bos indicus animals. Crossbred animals are readily available
for Brazilian feedlot producers, including animals from dual-purpose
enterprises (milk and beef production systems). In addition, crossbreeding
programs are becoming more popular among beef producers,
either using B. indicus (e.g. Nellore and Guzerat) and, or Bos taurus (e.g.
Simmental) breeds, aiming to explore the benefits of heterosis for meat
quality (Gama et al., 2013).
Assessment of parameters correlated with tenderness and meat
color such as pH, water-holding capacity and shear force is important
because of their relationship with quality and consumer acceptance
(Pflanzer & Felício, 2011; Schönfeldt & Strydom, 2011), and when