Finishing steers with diets based on corn, high-tannin sorghum, or a mix of both: Feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and beef sensory attributes1

Abstract

The objective of this work was to compare feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and beef sensory attributes from steers finished with diets based on corn, high-tannin sorghum (HTS), and a mix of both grains. Angus crossbred steers (n = 11 steers per treatment, initial BW = 404 +/- 18 kg) were finished on diets containing 765 g/kg of DM of corn, HTS, or a 1:1 mix of corn and HTS. Final BW (P < 0.01), ADG (P < 0.001), and G:F (P < 0.01) were reduced in steers fed HTS when compared with steers fed corn. Steers fed the mixed diet had greater G:F than the average between corn and HTS diets (P = 0.04), which indicated that mixing corn and HTS had positive associative effects. Estimated NE(m) of HTS was 1.91, and estimated NE(g) was 1.35 Mcal/kg of DM. Hot carcass weight (P < 0.01), trimmed carcass weight (P < 0.01), yield grade (P = 0.04), and 12th-rib fat thickness (P = 0.01) were less in steers fed HTS than in those fed corn. Estimated percentage of HCW as boneless, closely trimmed retail cuts was greater in steers fed HTS compared with those fed corn (P = 0.02) but, due to the decreased HCW, estimated amount of boneless, closely trimmed retail cuts was less in steers fed HTS than in those fed corn (P = 0.03). Steers fed HTS had greater pH on LM (P = 0.02) than steers fed corn, but the difference was small (5.42 +/- 0.02 vs. 5.36 +/- 0.02, respectively) and within the range of normal beef pH. Diet had no effect on Warner-Bratzler shear values (P > or = 0.72). Multivariate ANOVA indicated a difference in sensory attributes of beef from corn and HTS steers (Wilks' Lambda, P = 0.04). When evaluating each sensory attribute independently, panelists found beef from steers fed HTS to be less juicy (P < 0.01), less tender (P = 0.03), and more cooked (P < 0.01) than beef from animals fed corn. Data from this study indicated that by using a 1:1 mix of HTS and corn it is possible to finish steers to similar BW and carcass quality as by using a corn-based diet. Also, total replacement of corn by HTS in the diets produced lighter and leaner animals. Total replacement of corn by HTS in the finishing diet changed beef sensory attributes, reducing the perception of beef tenderness and juiciness by panelists but without changing instrumental tenderness.

Animal Performance, Feeding Behaviour and Carcass Traits of Feedlot Cattle Diet Fed With Agro-Industrial By-Product as Fat Source

“…The fat sources used, CSB and SOB at 3 and 5% of EE in the diet, did not affect (P ≥ 0.05) the carcass traits of the animals (Table 4), which is in agreement with Zinn (1989a), Felton andKerley (2004b), Cranston et al (2006), Larraín, Schaefer, Arp, Claus, and Reed (2009),Vander Pol et al (2009, who also found no changes in carcass traits using different fat sources in diets for feedlot cattle.…”

“…In addition, the values of 55.4 ± 0.22% for HCW/Final BW, 37.0 ± 0.27% for forequarter/HCW, 14.4 ± 0.14% for spare ribs/HCW and 48.6 ± 0.24% for hindquarter/HCW found in this work were close to those reported by Leme et al (2000) for non-castrated Nellore cattle, that found in same traits: 53.7, 40.6, 12.6 and 46.8%, respectively; and by Zorzi et al (2013), who evaluated the effect of residual feed intake in Nellore bulls of similar pedigree to those animals used in this study and found a proportion of forequarter, spare ribs and hindquarter, of 41.2, 12.8 and 46.0, respectively. In terms of cutability proportion, the overall mean was 51.8% cut yields in HCW, a value similar to the 50.5% reported by Larraín et al (2009).…”

“…The average value of KPH was also greater than that observed by Bonilha et al (2008), in summarized data of eight progenies of Nellore animals of the same pedigree of those used in this study; they found KPH of 7.62 kg, and HCW of 277.5 kg, with a percentage ratio of 2.74%. In addition, Larraín et al (2009) 3SOB and 5SOB = diets with 3 and 5% ether extract and soybean by-product as lipid source; 3CSB, 4CSB and 5CSB = diets with 3, 4 and 5% ether extract and cottonseed by-product as lipid source, respectively. ++ SEM = standard error of the mean, n=40.…”

Engorda de corderos Pelibuey con diferente nivel de alfalfa en la dieta

“…Esta situación no sucede cuando se incluye alfalfa, ya que según Otero e Hidalgo (2004) % de taninos, cantidad insuficiente para provocar aversión. Al respecto, Larraín et al (2009) observaron un menor consumo de alimento en toros alimentados con dietas altas en taninos, repercutiendo en una menor ganancia de peso. Adicionalmente, se ha reportado que los ácidos grasos volátiles (AGV) están involucrados en el proceso de consumo de materia seca, particularmente, el propiónico (Loncke et al, 2009;Krizsan y Randby, 2007) que actúa como sustrato fundamental en la gluconeogénesis, proceso por el cual los rumiantes obtienen glucosa a partir de compuestos que no son carbohidratos (Murray et al, 2007).…”

Prediction of the nutritive value of wet whole-crop sorghum silage according to the INRA feeding system by near-infrared spectroscopy

“…Sorghum has recently become a popular feed for ruminants in many countries (Oliver et al, 2004;Larraín et al, 2009), including Poland (Pyś et al,…”