Performance, carcass yield, and carcass quality characteristics of steers finished on rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata)-tropical grass pasture or concentrate

Abstract

Steers (n = 156) finished on rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth.)-tropical grass pasture in Florida and slaughtered at Central Packing, Center Hill were compared with steers (n = 152) finished on a concentrate diet in Texas and slaughtered at Excel, Plainview. Average daily gain during the growing and finishing periods was lower (P < .001) for forage-finished steers (.49 and .94 kg/d, respectively) than for concentrate-finished steers (.78 and 1.33 kg/d, respectively). Forage-finished steers had less fat over the ribeye (8.3 vs 11.4 mm; P < .01), lighter hot carcass weight (280 vs 346 kg; P < .001), and smaller longissimus muscle area (70.8 vs 86.6 cm2; P < .001) than concentrate-finished steers. Yield grade was not different (2.7 vs 2.6; P > .10), but quality grade was slightly better (low Select vs mid Select; P < .01) for concentrate-finished steers. Lean color of forage-finished steers was darker (P < .001) and fat of forage-finished steers had a creamier color (P < .001), but carcasses were not discounted due to yellow fat color. Shear force values were higher (6.8 vs 4.0 kg; P < .001) for forage-finished than for concentrate-finished steers. Off-flavors were detected by trained sensory panelists in 36% of forage-finished and 14% of concentrate-finished carcasses, but all at barely detectable levels. This research indicates that steers can be finished on rhizoma peanut-tropical grass pastures, but with some reduction in quality grade relative to concentrate-finished steers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of two feeding finishing treatments on production and quality of organic beef

“…Yellow fat is less desirable by consumers since it is associated with old or diseased cattle (Dikeman, 1990). The increased shear force observed in the current study for pasture grazing heifers is in line with the results obtained on steers (Bennett et al, 1995) and bulls (Dannenberger et al, 2006). However, differently from expected, in the current study the lower tenderness of meat from grazing heifers was not associated to a lower intramuscular fat content.…”

“…Branscheid (1996) argued that, due to a reduced energy supply and growth rate as the consequence of the extensive production method, organic production could lead to a lower carcass and meat quality. This concern was supported by several trials that obtained lighter carcasses with less fat from steers finished on pasture compared to those of confined animals fed diets rich in concentrates (Bennett et al, 1995;Camfield et al, 1999;Kerth et al, 2007). In the present study, while no difference was observed between treatments regarding slaughter performance and carcass quality, meat pH from heifers finished on pasture was unexpectedly lower than that of confined cattle receiving a TMR.…”

Genetic and phenotypic characterisation of animal, carcass, and meat quality traits from temperate and tropically adapted beef breeds. 3. Meat quality traits

“…French et al (2000French et al ( , 2001 reported no differences in L* values between dietary treatments (combinations of grass silage, concentrates, and pasture). However, Bennett et al (1995) reported darker meat in forage-fed animals than concentrate-fed animals, but the forage-fed animals were older at slaughter. Several authors have suggested higher muscle myoglobin content in pasturefed animals as a possible explanation (Bidner et al 1986;Varnam and Sutherland 1995) but it could also simply be that myoglobin content increases with age (Young and West 2001).…”

Brahman and Brahman crossbred cattle grown on pasture and in feedlots in subtropical and temperate Australia. 2. Meat quality and palatability

“…Relative to pasture, feedlot finishing significantly improved all objective and sensory meat quality traits except CLST, and reduced age at slaughter by an average of 7 months (Schutt et al 2009). Similarly, Bennett et al (1995) reported that steers with no more than 50% Brahman content finished on rhizome peanut pasture in subtropical Florida had higher SF (6.8 v. 4.0 kg; P < 0.001), lower sensory juiciness (P < 0.01) and lower sensory tenderness (P < 0.001) relative to their feedlot-finished contemporaries. Ferguson et al (2000) reported significant differences in SF (P < 0.05) and ultimate pH (P < 0.001) between pasture-and feedlot-finished carcasses in an experiment including Hereford, Brahman · Hereford and Brahman steers and heifers, with~1 kg lower SF of feedlotfinished animals, and ultimate pH of 5.72 and 5.57 for pasture and feedlot finishing respectively.…”