scholarly journals Effect of Electrolyte Administration on Carcass Weight and pH Decline of Australian Feedlot Lambs

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Eckhardt ◽  
A. Garmyn ◽  
M. Miller

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to determine how the administration of electrolytes to Australian feedlot lambs would affect the carcass weight and pH decline.Materials and MethodsAustralian feedlot lambs (n = 200) were weighed (LW = 59.0 ± 2.7 kg) prior to the first administration of electrolyte and assigned randomly to 1 of 4 treatment groups (n = 50/group). Treatment groups consisted of no electrolyte (CON), a commercially available electrolyte (E1; Generade, Mount Barker, SA, 5251), an electrolyte formulated by a consulting nutritionist (E2), and experimental electrolyte formulation (E3). Electrolyte formulation was proprietary but contained the following ingredients: sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, potassium compounds, magnesium compounds, glucose and lysine. Electrolytes were delivered through the feed at specified dosage rates per treatment of 100ml/d (E1), 50 g/d (E2), and 17 g/d (E3) for 4 d. The administration of E2 and E3 began after weighing and sorting on d 1; E3 was started on d 3 and was only fed for 2 d prior to slaughter. Half of each treatment group was assigned to 1 of 2 consecutive harvest days with equal representation among treatments. Individual live weights were recorded after 4 d and prior to transportation to the abattoir. Individual live weights were recorded on arrival at the abattoir and again immediately before slaughter to determine transportation shrink and shrink during holding at the abattoir. Hot carcass weights were recorded. Longissimus pH was recorded when carcasses first entered the chiller following slaughter and were recorded again at 60 min and 120 min to monitor pH decline over the course of 2 h. On the following day after chilling, cold carcass weights were recorded, and cooler shrink was calculated.ResultsTreatment influenced all live weights (P < 0.01). The use of electrolytes in comparison to the control had a significant impact on the 4-d gain, as E3 lambs had greater gain than E1 or CON prior to transportation. All lambs administered an electrolyte maintained the live weight advantage over CON through pre-slaughter live weight collection; however, E2 and E3 were similar for transport shrink percentage, but were both greater (P < 0.05) when compared to E1 and CON, which were also similar. HCW, CCW, and cooler shrink percentage were not influenced by electrolyte treatment (P ≥ 0.25).No interaction between treatment and time was detected for pH (P = 0.07), suggesting pH declined at similar rates; however, CON had greater (P < 0.05) pH values (6.00) than any of the electrolyte-treated lamb carcasses (5.79–5.89), regardless of time postmortem.ConclusionResults suggest the administration of the various electrolytes does create live weight differences between the treatments and especially apart from CON, as evidenced by the improved 4-d gain and transportation shrink. Electrolytes, however, did not affect carcass weights. The intended usage for electrolytes should reduce stress, therefore resulting in a positive influence on meat quality by reducing the incidence of high pH and dark cutting. Although the administration of electrolytes did not affect the decline of pH, it did influence the ultimate pH value. The CON had greater final pH, indicating that the use of electrolytes on Australian feedlot lambs can benefit meat quality.

1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-237
Author(s):  
C. E. Hinks ◽  
J. H. D. Prescott

SUMMARYTwo experiments concerning the effects, on the carcass and meat characteristics of 18-months-old Friesian steers, of variation in grazing intensity and the level of barley feeding with silage are reported.Groups of 12 steers were grazed at different intensities over 5-month grazing periods, such that live-weight differences of 38 kg and 16 kg were recorded at housing. No compensatory growth was recorded during the subsequent winter feeding period.Whilst the grazing treatments had little effect on carcass or meat quality, higher levels of barley feeding with silage over the winter period (710 v. 410 kg/steer) had significant effects on live-weight gain, and increased carcass weight by 21 kg at slaughter. The higher yield of carcass weight was reflected in significant differences in carcass composition, joint proportions and retail cut-out value. Sixty per cent of the carcass weight difference was removed as trim fat. Differences in carcass fatness were not associated with any differences in eating quality.


1999 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Carson ◽  
B. W. Moss ◽  
R. W. J. Steen ◽  
D. J. Kilpatrick

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of the percentage of Texel or Rouge de l’Ouest (Rouge) genes in lambs (0, 50, 75 or 100%; the remainder being Greyface (Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface)) on lamb carcass characteristics and meat quality. Ewe lambs were slaughtered at 34, 40, 46 and 52 kg and ram lambs were slaughtered at 40, 46, 52 and 58 kg live weight. Dressing proportion increased (P < 0·001) by 0·53 and 0·27 g carcass weight per kg live weight for each 1% increase in Texel or Rouge genes respectively. Carcass conformation classification increased (P < 0·001) by 0·016 and 0·007 units (on a five-point scale) for each 1% increase in Texel or Rouge genes respectively. Carcass fat depth measures were reduced by Texel and Rouge genes such that at a constant fat depth end point, carcass weight could be increased by 0·029 and 0·023 kg for each 1% increase in Texel or Rouge genes. Carcass lean content increased (P < 0·001) by 0·99 and 0·27 g/kg for each 1% increase in Texel or Rouge genes. Subcutaneous fat content was reduced (P < 0·001) by 0·36 and 0·29 g/kg for each 1% increase in Texel or Rouge genes. Intermuscular fat content was reduced (P < 0·01) by 0·38 g/kg per 1% increase in Texel genes, whereas Rouge genes had no effect. Similarly, bone content was reduced (P < 0·01) by Texel genes only (0·31 g/kg per 1% increase in Texel genes). Warner-Bratzler shear force values showed a quadratic effect with increasing Texel and Rouge genes, with an initial decrease from 0 to 50% followed by an increase to 100%. Cooking loss increased (P = 0·05) as the percentage of Rouge genes in lambs increased. Increasing the percentage of Texel or Rouge genes significantly increased L* values (P < 0·01 and P < 0·05 respectively), b* values (P = 0·05 and P< 0·05 respectively) and H° values (P < 0·001).


2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ristic ◽  
K. Damme

For determination of poultry quality shortly after slaughtering, physical criteria (pH-value, conductivity, colour, juice retention) are of importance. However, they are affected by breeding, transport, cooling and the storage period. PH-values of breast meat (genetically structured material) were recorded shortly after slaughtering (15 min p.m.) and differences between breeding line and gender were found (n=5109). The pH1-values ranged from 5.50 to 6.79. Male broilers showed significantly lower pH1-values than female ones (6.02:6.10). There were also significant differences concerning breeding line and gender. Meat quality (PSE, DFD) of broilers can be recorded quickly and accurately determining the pH1-value of breast meat. Threshold ranges to be considered are ? 5.8 (PSE), 5.9-6.2 (standard meat properties) and ? 6.3 (DFD). This classification is not to be compared to the deviation of pork.


2001 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.D. Muir ◽  
N.B. Smith ◽  
P.M. Dobbie ◽  
D.R. Smith ◽  
M.D. Bown

AbstractThere is evidence that, in cattle, rapid compensatory growth after a period of growth restriction may increase the variability of beef quality and that variability is greater in breeds which reach larger body size at maturity. This experiment investigated the effect of compensatory growth following a period of winter growth restriction on carcass quality in steers of small and large mature size grazed on pasture. Angus (no. = 120) and South Devon ✕ Angus (SD✕ A; no. = 110) steers were allocated to non-restricted or restricted growth treatment groups and for 126 days over winter their grazing was managed to achieve mean live-weight gains of approximately 0·7 kg/day or to maintain live weight for each group respectively. Steers were slaughtered at the start (no. = 10 per breed) and end (no. = 20 per nutrition group (10 from each breed)) of the winter period for carcass evaluation. Thereafter, remaining steers were grazed together at a high pasture allowance to maximize growth and were slaughtered for carcass evaluation as they reached target live weights (Angus, 590 kg; SD✕ A, 620 kg). SD✕ A steers grew faster (P< 0·05) during both the winter and finishing periods and reached target slaughter live weights approximately 20 days earlier than Angus steers. SD✕ A steers also had leaner carcasses than Angus steers at each slaughter although there was no significant difference in meat quality between breeds. However, there was a significant effect of restriction treatment on carcass weight and meat quality. The non-restricted steers grew faster, had heavier carcasses and more tender steaks than restricted steers, although there was no significant difference in carcass fatness (adjusted for hot carcass weight). Muscle calpain activities were positively correlated with live-weight gain during the finishing period suggesting increased potential for post-mortem myofibrillar proteolysis and therefore increased meat tenderness. However, in the present experiment this was confounded by an increase in shear force with age-at-slaughter, especially in the non-restricted steers. Nevertheless, steers which were heaviest at the start of the experiment reached slaughter live weight earliest, were leaner than average and had higher calpain system activities at slaughter regardless of breed or restriction treatment. Furthermore, in the non-restricted group, high initial live weight and early slaughter was associated with lower pH and more tender meat. In conclusion, although restriction affected meat quality attributes, it appears that live weight prior to food restriction also had a considerable effect on carcass characteristics at slaughter. Therefore, the characteristics of the early growth phase prior to the finishing period may have important consequences for meat quality.


1975 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. H. Brooks ◽  
D. J. A. Cole ◽  
W. J. N. Jennings

SUMMARYThe carcass characteristics of young adult female pigs (gilts) slaughtered after weaning their first litters have been investigated using three groups of 19 Landrace × (Landrace×Large White) gilts. In two treatment groups gilts were mated at their pubertal oestrus and suckled their piglets for 5 to 11 and 35 to 42 days respectively. These gilts were slaughtered on average 10 days after weaning. A third control group consisted of unmated gilts slaughtered at 118 kg live weight.There was no significant difference in the killing-out percentage for the three groups. The carcasses of the gilts which farrowed contained significantly less fat (P<0·001) than those of the unmated controls. The carcasses of the farrowed gilts had significantly lighter middle sections (P<0·001) and significantly heavier shoulders (P<0·001) than the controls.Despite the variations in tissue yield and distribution, the yield of prime joints for the gilts which had farrowed was only 0·62 percentage units less than that of the controls.No commercially significant variations between groups in meat quality were observed.


1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 791-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. M. Jones ◽  
A. L. Schaefer ◽  
A. K. W. Tong

Eighty-nine yearling beef bulls were allocated to one of four lairage treatment groups of either 0, 12, 24 or 36 h. Except for the 0-h group, all animals were given a 4-h road transport followed by either 12, 24 or 36 h in lairage pre-slaughter without feed and water. An electrolyte solution was offered during lairage to groups of bulls within the fasting treatments. Following slaughter and dressing, alternate carcass sides were stimulated (470 V, 1.5 A, 60 Hz) for 60 s, and data on muscle quality were collected. Fasting resulted in a progressive reduction in warm and cold carcass weight (as a proportion of final live weight) and reduced liver, rumen and intestine proportions. Electrolyte supplementation was effective in reducing carcass weight losses and appeared to have its greatest effect on bulls kept in lairage for 36 h. Fasting and electrolyte supplementation had few effects on muscle quality. Electrical stimulation reduced muscle shear value, lowered final muscle pH, brightened muscle colour at 24 h post mortem but had no effect on marbling score. It was concluded that electrolyte supplementation increased carcass yield in fasted bulls but had little beneficial effect on meat quality. On the other hand, electrical stimulation improved several quality parameters, including muscle shear value. Key words: Bulls, cattle, fasting, lairage, electrical stimulation, meat quality


1990 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Wythes ◽  
W. R. Shorthose ◽  
G. Fordyce ◽  
D. W. Underwood

ABSTRACTThe effects of pregnancy status (non-pregnant, early to mid (1 to 5 months) and late (> 6 months)) and month of pregnancy on live weight, carcass weight, dressing proportion, bruising and muscle properties were examined in 237 Shorthorn and Brahman crossbred cows (mean live weight 424 kg, 62% pregnant). The cows were transported 1155 km to an abattoir and given access to food and water until slaughter. Mustering to slaughter periods were 5, 6 or 7 days.The mean gross hot carcass weights for the 89 non-pregnant, 108 early to mid pregnant and 40 late pregnant cows were 207, 199 and 187 kg (P < 0·05). Their respective dressing proportions were 487, 469 and 443 g/kg (P < 0·05). Among the pregnant cows, carcass weight and dressing proportion decreased by 2·95 kg and 6 g/kg, respectively, for each month of pregnancy (P < 0·05).Cows in late pregnancy had lower mean initial yield (IY) and peak force (PF) shear values for m.longissimus dorsi (LD) than non-pregnant cows. The late-pregnant cows also had the greatest mean pH 24 h post mortem (pH24) and ultimate pH (pHu) values (P < 0·05). They also had a greater proportion of carcasses with high pHu values than the early to mid-pregnant and non-pregnant cows (0·30 v. 0·157 v. 0·079; (P < 005). Among the pregnant cows, mean pH24 increased by proportionately 0·038 and the proportion of high pH24 carcasses by 0·055 for each month of pregnancy (P < 0·05). Pregnancy status had no significant effect on mean fat depth, bruise score, PF-IY value or cooking loss.


2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-251
Author(s):  
Leticia Jalloul Guimarães ◽  
Isabella Guartieri da Silva ◽  
Ana Claudia Ambiel ◽  
Fabiola Cristine de Almeida Rego ◽  
Caliê Castilho ◽  
...  

This study evaluated the effects of different energy sources, as corn substitutes, on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs. Twenty-four intact ram lambs were identified, weighed, and assigned to one of four dietary treatments: corn, citrus pulp, rice bran, and soybean hulls. The ram lambs were confined in feedlots, and when they reached 30 kg of live weight, they were slaughtered. A  completelyrandomized design with different replicates was used for the analysis, along with the Tukey-5% test. For hot and cold carcass weight, rice bran produced lower values than the other dietary treatments. For the red color content of the meat, citrus pulp presented superior values when compared to corn, whereas meat and fat color, loin eye area, and objective tenderness did not differ between treatments. Different energetic sources used to replace corn in ram lambs finishing diets did not affect the proximate composition and quality of the meat. Highlights:  • Addition of rice bran to the lambs' diet resulted in lower hot and cold carcass weight.• Animals fed soybean hulls presented the highest carcass compactness index values.• Rice bran extended the feedlot period of lambs in 59.33 days, been longer than the others energies sources.• Corn, rice bran, citrus pulp and soybean hulls did not change the quality of meat but the inclusion of rice bran should be carefully evaluated.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sena Ardicli ◽  
Hale Samli ◽  
Fazli Alpay ◽  
Deniz Dincel ◽  
Bahadir Soyudal ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize the bovine fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) gene 3691G>A and 2834C>G polymorphisms and to evaluate interaction effects on the live weight, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Holstein bulls in the South Marmara region of Turkey. A total of 400 Holstein bulls grown on a private farm and slaughtered at 14-21 months of age, were randomly selected for use in this study. Initially, genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP method and statistical analysis was carried out using least square methods of the GLM procedure. A SNP located in intron 1 (2834C>G) was associated with desirable increases in live weight, hot carcass weight and chilled carcass weight, and a SNP located in exon 3 (3691G>A) was associated with significant increases in marbling scores and first compressive stress point of the longissimus dorsi muscle (P<0.05). The interaction analysis of the 3691G>A and the 2834C>G polymorphisms revealed significant effects for hot carcass weight, chilled carcass weight and backfat thickness (P<0.05). There were no significant associations between the SNPs and carcass measurements. Results indicated that the FABP4 3691G>A and 2834C>G polymorphisms and the 3691G>A and 2834C>G interactions can be used as selection parameters in breeding programmes to improve meat yield and carcass characteristics.


1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ellis ◽  
V. R. Fowler ◽  
M. F. Franklin ◽  
J. D. Wood ◽  
M. A. Varley

AbstractA study was made to investigate the influence of pregnancy feeding level (ad libitum (AL) and restricted (R); 2·0 kg food per day) and lactation length on growth, carcass, meat quality and processing characteristics of pregnant gilts (P) slaughtered after weaning on day 0 (P·0), day 10 (P·10) or day 35 (P·35) after farrowing. Non-pregnant (NP) control gilts were slaughtered at live weights of approximately 95 kg (NP-L), 135 kg (NP-M), and 160 kg (NP-H). P gilts were mated at an average age of 172 days and an average live weight of 97 kg. Pregnancy per se reduced live weight and lean growth rates compared with NP-H animals which were slaughtered at a similar age to the once-bred animals. Weight loss during lactation tended to increase with lactation length and was higher for gilts given food ad libitum during pregnancy compared with restricted animals. The weight of closely trimmed lean in the carcass was similar for the P·0, P·10 and P·35 groups (59·5 v. 62·2 v. 58·8 kg respectively; average s.e. 2·42) and all once-bred gilt groups virtually doubled trimmed lean yields during pregnancy and lactation. Curing yields were similar for P and NP gilts. As lactation length increased, the fat content of the longissimus dorsi and of the overlying subcutaneous fat layers tended to decrease and the moisture content of these two tissues increased. The major impact offeeding level was on fat levels which were significantly higher for AL animals. Trimmed lean yields were also higher for AL gilts suggesting that lean growth rates were not being maximized on the R feeding regime. Subjective muscle colour scores indicated that the longissmus dorsi from P gilts was darker than from NP-L animals and muscle colour tended to become darker with increasing lactation length. There were few significant differences between treatment groups for eating quality. Meat from once-bred gilts was generally judged to be tougher than that from NP-L animals and toughness generally increased with lactation length. This study confirms the potential of the once-bred gilt as an efficient producer of pig meat but raises issues regarding meat quality that require further research.


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