Journal of Animal Science, Vol 78, Issue 7 1867-1874, Copyright © 2000 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Implant strategies during feeding: impact on carcass grades and consumer acceptability

D. L. Roeber, R. C. Cannell, K. E. Belk, R. K. Miller, J. D. Tatum and G. C. Smith
Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523-1171, USA.

Anabolic growth promotants influence beef grade factors and Warner-Bratzler shear force of steaks. No study has assessed the consumer acceptability of beef derived from implanted cattle. This study determined beef carcass grades and consumer acceptability for cooked beef from unimplanted (control) cattle and from cattle implanted with one of seven different implant strategies (initial implant/implant at 59 d = Encore & Component T-S/no implant, Ralgro/Synovex Plus, Ralgro/Revalor-S, Revalor-S/Revalor-S, Revalor-S/no implant, no implant/Synovex Plus, and Synovex Plus/no implant). British crossbred steers (n = 448) were allocated randomly into one of eight pens for each of the control and seven treatment groups. Carcass quality and yield grade (n = 403) and Warner-Bratzler shear force (n = 298) data were collected by trained personnel. Twenty steaks per control or treatment group were selected randomly for use in consumer sensory evaluation. Steaks were evaluated by consumers for overall like, tenderness like, tenderness level, flavor like, flavor intensity, and juiciness level using 9-point, end-anchored hedonic scales. Control carcasses had smaller (P < .05) longissimus muscle areas than carcasses in all treatment groups except those receiving Encore & Component T S/no implant, Ralgro/Synovex Plus, or Revalor S/no implant. Control carcasses had higher (P < .05) marbling scores than carcasses in all treatment groups except those receiving Ralgro/Revalor-S or Encore & Component T-S/no implant. Steaks from control steers had lower (P < .05) Warner-Bratzler shear force values than steaks from steers given Revalor-S/no implant. Consumer ratings for tenderness like and tenderness level were influenced (P < .05) by implant strategy. Effects of implant strategy on overall like, flavor like, and flavor intensity approached significance (P = .07 to .09). Consumers rated steaks from unimplanted steers as more tender (tenderness level; P < .05) than steaks from all treatment groups except that involving Encore & Component T-S/no implant. Consumers rated steaks from unimplanted steers as more desirable (P < .05) for tenderness like than steaks from all treatments except those involving Encore & Component T-S/no implant or Revalor-S/no implant. Although use of implants in this study resulted in heavier hot carcass weights and larger ribeyes, some of the implant strategies reduced consumer preference of tenderness of steaks.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. D. Bass, J. L. Beckett, and R. J. Delmore Jr. Case Study: Effects of Ractopamine in Combination with Various Hormone Implant Regimens on Growth and Carcass Attributes in Calf-Fed Holstein Steers Professional Animal Scientist, April 1, 2009; 25(2): 195 - 201. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. A. Boles, D. L. Boss, K. I. Neary, K. C. Davis, and M. W. Tess Growth implants reduced tenderness of steaks from steers and heifers with different genetic potentials for growth and marbling J Anim Sci, January 1, 2009; 87(1): 269 - 274. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Faucitano, P. Y. Chouinard, J. Fortin, I. B. Mandell, C. Lafreniere, C. L. Girard, and R. Berthiaume Comparison of alternative beef production systems based on forage finishing or grain-forage diets with or without growth promotants: 2. Meat quality, fatty acid composition, and overall palatability J Anim Sci, July 1, 2008; 86(7): 1678 - 1689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Schneider, J. D. Tatum, T. E. Engle, and T. C. Bryant Effects of heifer finishing implants on beef carcass traits and longissimus tenderness J Anim Sci, August 1, 2007; 85(8): 2019 - 2030. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. R. Smith, S. K. Duckett, M. J. Azain, R. N. Sonon Jr., and T. D. Pringle The effect of anabolic implants on intramuscular lipid deposition in finished beef cattle J Anim Sci, February 1, 2007; 85(2): 430 - 440. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Berthiaume, I. Mandell, L. Faucitano, and C. Lafreniere Comparison of alternative beef production systems based on forage finishing or grain-forage diets with or without growth promotants: 1. Feedlot performance, carcass quality, and production costs J Anim Sci, August 1, 2006; 84(8): 2168 - 2177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Roeber, R. K. Gill, and A. DiCostanzo Meat quality responses to feeding distiller's grains to finishing Holstein steers J Anim Sci, October 1, 2005; 83(10): 2455 - 2460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. L. Barham, J. C. Brooks, J. R. Blanton Jr., A. D. Herring, M. A. Carr, C. R. Kerth, and M. F. Miller Effects of growth implants on consumer perceptions of meat tenderness in beef steers J Anim Sci, December 1, 2003; 81(12): 3052 - 3056. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Scheffler, D. D. Buskirk, S. R. Rust, J. D. Cowley, and M. E. Doumit Effect of repeated administration of combination trenbolone acetate and estradiol implants on growth, carcass traits, and beef quality of long-fed Holstein steers J Anim Sci, October 1, 2003; 81(10): 2395 - 2400. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. J. Platter, J. D. Tatum, K. E. Belk, J. A. Scanga, and G. C. Smith Effects of repetitive use of hormonal implants on beef carcass quality, tenderness, and consumer ratings of beef palatability J Anim Sci, April 1, 2003; 81(4): 984 - 996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Reiling and D. D. Johnson Effects of implant regimens (trenbolone acetate-estradiol administered alone or in combination with zeranol) and vitamin D3 on fresh beef color and quality J Anim Sci, January 1, 2003; 81(1): 135 - 142. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Schoonmaker, S. C. Loerch, F. L. Fluharty, H. N. Zerby, and T. B. Turner Effect of age at feedlot entry on performance and carcass characteristics of bulls and steers J Anim Sci, September 1, 2002; 80(9): 2247 - 2254. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]