Effects of forage level and chromium-methionine chelate supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics and blood metabolites in Korean native (Hanwoo) steers

Abstract

A feeding trial was carried out to determine the effects of chromium methionine (Cr-Met) chelate and forage level over two years, 1st fattening and 2nd fattening period on growth parameters, carcass characteristics and blood metabolites of 46 Korean native (Hanwoo, Bos Taurus, BW = 183 ± 44 kg) steers. Treatments were: 1) Steers in the low forage (LF) group were fed diets that consisted of 60% concentrate and 40% forage; 2) Steers in the high forage (HF) group were fed diets that consisted of 40% concentrate and 60% forage. Following the 1st fattening period, steers (BW = 480 ± 37.6 kg) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: LF (40 F plus no Cr-Met supplementation in the 2nd fattening period), LFCM (40LF plus added 400 ppb of Cr-Met during the 2nd fattening period), HF (60 F plus no added Cr-Met during the 2nd fattening period) and HFCM (60 F plus added 400 ppb of Cr-Met in the 2nd fattening period). Dry matter intake of the treatment diets did not differ during the raising and 1th fattening period (P > 0.05). The ADG in the raising period showed no difference between the 40 F and 60 F groups (P > 0.05). Carcass characteristics including rib-eye area and meat yield index were higher in HF than the other treatment groups (P < 0.05). The HF group tended to show a higher (P = 0.08) marbling score than the LF group whereas the HFCM group showed a higher marbling score than the LFCM group (P < 0.05). HDL was higher and LDL lower in groups fed with Cr-Met than in other groups whereas glucose showed the lowest value in HF group (P < 0.05). Triglyceride (TG), Cholesterol, PUN and total protein (TP) were the same among all treatment groups (P > 0.05). The Insulin concentration in the blood was significantly higher for the HFCM group than for the LF, LFCM and HF groups (P < 0.05). It is concluded that supplementation of chromium-methionine chelate could improve meat quality in beef steers.

Fatty acid profile of meat, diurnal changes in volatile fatty acids, rumen fluid parameters, and growth performance in Korean native (Hanwoo) steers fed high- and low-forage diets supplemented with chromium-methionine

“…Ohh and Lee (2005) concluded that Cr-Met supplementation may not improve body weight of animals. However, by contrast, it has been reported that a higher forage ratio may lead to lower DM intake and lower weight gain in steers in a longer period of growth (Song et al, 2013;Sung et al, 2015).…”

“…The meat fatty acid composition has a promising role in the quality of beef for consumers (Lindemann et al, 2008;Sung et al, 2015;Ghassemi Nejad et al, 2016). Chromium can influence fat mobilization from body stores to meet nutrient requirements.…”

“…Hence, alterations in some fatty acid compositions can be expected. Chromium-methionine has a high potential to be absorbed through increased digestion in the gastro-intestinal tract (Ohh et al, 2004;Sung et al, 2015;Ghassemi Nejad et al, 2016). The finishing diet strongly influences the fatty acid composition of beef (Smith et al, 2009;Ghassemi Nejad et al, 2016).…”

“…In those studies, 400 ppb/d of Cr-Met supplementation was reported as the optimum level. On the other hand, Sung et al (2015) reported higher marbling score, rib-eye area, and meat yield index in Hanwoo steers fed a high-forage diet supplemented with 400 ppb/d of Cr-Met compared with the low-forage diet group. However, to the best knowledge of the authors, the effects of Cr-Met supplementation on daily pattern of rumen fluid parameters including volatile fatty acids (VFA), pH, ammonia-N, and fatty acid composition of meat from Hanwoo steers fed high-and low-forage diets is yet to be investigated.…”

“…Melton et al (1982) found that grassfed cattle beef had a decreased concentration of MUFA and a greater concentration of SFA compared with grain-fed cattle; however, one study found that grass-fed cattle beef had less SFA and more MUFA than grain-fed cattle beef (French et al, 2000). Moreover, it has been reported that Cr supplementation can be employed to manipulate the quality of meat due to its biological function on body fat and muscle metabolism (Kitchalong et al, 1995;Sung et al, 2015); however, factors such as the level of Cr supplementation and its source, nutrients, chromium levels in the basal diet, breed and species may intervene with these functions Ghassemi Nejad et al, 2016). Decreasing diet energy density through increasing forage level may also increase ruminal acetate:propionate ratio and methane energy loss (Merchen et al, 1986;Kinser et al, 1988;Zinn et al, 1994).…”