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Acceptability of Beef Finished on All-Forage, Forage-Plus-Grain or High Energy Diets⁴

Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803

Abstract

Fifty-six Hereford-Angus steers were fed four diets to an average slaughter weight of 476 kg (14 steers per diet), and live animal performance, carcass characteristics and acceptability of steaks were evaluated. The four diets were: (A) bermudagrass and ryegrass pasture, free choice hay and .9 kg cottonseed meal/head daily during periods of poor pasture; (B) 1% body weight of grain in addition to ryegrass and bermudagrass pasture; (C) ryegrass pasture, then 60 days of 1% body weight of grain in addition to bermudagrass pasture, followed by 70 days of concentrate diet; (D) ryegrass and bermudagrass pasture, followed by 74 days of concentrate diet. The three groups receiving grain (B—D) had faster (P<.05) rates of gain than the forage group (A). The steers fed forage required 160 additional days to reach the 476 kg weight compared with the average for the three grain groups. Grain feeding increased subcutaneous fat and marbling but did not have a significant influence on yield or quality grades. Diets had no influence on color of fat or muscle pH. Carcasses from forage cattle had a darker (P<.05) lean as measured by visual scores and by the Hunter Color Difference meter. Consumer organoleptic evaluation of steaks for tenderness, juiciness, flavor and overall desirability indicated that diet had no effect on palatability. In addition, Warner-Bratzler shear values were similar for steaks from all treatment groups.

⁴ Published with the approval of the Exp. Sta.

¹ Dept. of Anim. Sci.

² Dept. of Agr. Econ. and Agribusiness.

³ West Louisiana Exp. Sta.

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