Influence of BOVAMINE DEFEND Plus on growth performance, carcass characteristics, estimated dry matter digestibility, rumen fermentation characteristics, and immune function in finishing beef steers.

One hundred and eighty crossbred beef steers (406.0 ±â€…2.2 kg) were used to determine the impact of a novel direct-fed microbial (DFM) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, rumen fermentation characteristics, and immune response in finishing beef cattle. Steers were blocked by body weight (BW) and randomly assigned, within block, to 1 of 2 treatments (3 replicates/treatment: 30 steers/replicate). Treatments included: (1) no DFM (control) and (2) DFM supplementation at 50 mg ∙ animal-1 ∙ d-1 (BOVAMINE DEFEND Plus). All steers were fed a high-concentrate finishing diet and individual feed intake was recorded daily via the GrowSafe system. BWs were collected every 28 d. On day 55, 10 steers per pen were injected with ovalbumin (OVA). Jugular blood samples were collected from each steer on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 post injection. On day 112, the same steers were injected again with OVA and intramuscularly with a pig red blood cell solution. Jugular blood samples were collected from each steer on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 post injection. On day 124, rumen fluid was collected from 3 steers per treatment and used to estimate in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics. Equal numbers of steers per treatment were transported to a commercial abattoir on days 145, 167, and 185 of the experiment, harvested, and carcass data were collected. Initial BW was similar across treatments. On days 28 and 55, steers receiving DFM had heavier BW (P < 0.01) compared to controls. The average daily gain was greater in DFM-supplemented steers from days 0 to 28 (P < 0.01) and days 0 to 55 (P < 0.01) of the experiment compared to controls. Overall dry matter intake (DMI) was greater (P < 0.04) and overall feed efficiency was similar in DFM-supplemented steers compared to controls. Dressing percentage (P < 0.02) was greater in steers receiving DFM compared to controls. Antibody titers to injected antigens were similar across treatments. However, red blood cell superoxide dismutase activity was greater (P < 0.05) in DFM-supplemented steers compared to controls. In vitro molar proportions of isobutyric and butyric acid were greater (P < 0.01) and dry matter (DM) digestibility tended (P < 0.07) to be greater in rumen fluid obtained from steers supplemented with DFM. These data suggest that BOVAMINE DEFEND Plus supplementation improves growth performance during the initial period of the finishing phase, increases overall DMI and dressing percentage, and may impact antioxidant status in beef cattle.

Multivariate relationships among pH, subcutaneous fat thickness, and color in bovine meat using canonical correlation analysis / Relación multivariada entre pH, espesor de grasa subcutánea y color en carne bovina usando el análisis de correlación canónica / Relação multivariada entre pH, espessura de gordura subcutânea e cor em carne bovina usando a análise de correlação canônica

Abstract Background: pH, subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), and color are fundamental variables to define the organoleptic characteristics of meat. However, multivariate relationships of those traits remain unexplored in bovine meat. Objective: To investigate the multivariate relationships among pH, subcutaneous fat thickness, and color parameters in bovine meat using canonical correlation analysis. Methods: A dataset containing 173 individual records of pH, SFT, and color parameters (a*: intensity of red color, b*: intensity of yellow color, and L*: lightness) from five Brazilian beef cut types (Breed: Nellore; cuts: acém, contrafilé, fraldinha, patinho and picanha) was constructed. Multivariate relationships between color variables (a*, b*, and L*) and chemical variables (pH and SFT) were explored using the CANCORR procedure of SAS. Results: Two canonical correlations between U (a*, b*, and L*; color variables) and V (pH and SFT; chemical variables) variates were significant (p<0.01). First and second canonical correlations were 0.463 and 0.282, respectively. Canonical weights for variates were for U1: a* = 0.707, b* = 0.406, and L* = -0.039; U2: a* = 0.364, b* = -0.898, and L* = 1.234; V1: pH = -0.376 and SFT = 0.935; V2: pH = 0.927 and STF = 0.356. Conclusion: Subcutaneous fat thickness significantly affected intensity of red and yellow colors, whereas pH significantly affected lightness. The results of this study may be useful for a better understanding of the role of muscle metabolism and its implications on the organoleptic characteristics of bovine meat.

Resumen Antecedentes: El pH, espesor de la grasa subcutánea (SFT) y color, son variables importantes que definen las características organolépticas de la carne de rumiantes. Sin embargo, su relación multivariada en carne bovina permanece inexplorada hasta ahora. Objetivo: Investigar la relación multivariada entre el pH, SFT y parámetros de color en carne bovina mediante el análisis de correlación canónica. Métodos: Se construyó una base de datos con 173 registros individuales de pH, SFT y parámetros de color (a*: intensidad de color rojo, b*: intensidad de color amarillo y L*: luminosidad) de cinco tipos de cortes de carne bovina brasileña (Raza: Nellore; cortes: acém, contrafilé, fraldinha, patinho y picanha). La relación multivariada entre las variables de color (a*, b* y L*) y las variables químicas (pH y SFT) se exploró usando el procedimiento CANCORR de SAS. Resultados: Dos correlaciones canónicas entre las variables U (compuesta por a*, b* y L*; variables de color) y V (compuesta por pH y SFT; variables químicas) fueron significativas (p<0,01). La primera y la segunda correlación canónica fueron 0,463 y 0,282, respectivamente. Los pesos canónicos para las variables canónicas fueron para U1: a* = 0,707, b* = 0,406 y L* = -0,039; U2: a* = 0,364, b* = -0,898 y L* = 1,234; V1: pH = -0,376 y SFT = 0,935; V2: pH = 0,927 y SFT = 0,356. Conclusión: El espesor de grasa subcutánea afectó significativamente la intensidad de los colores rojo y amarillo, mientras que el pH afectó significativamente la luminosidad. Los resultados de este estudio pueden ser útiles para comprender el papel del metabolismo muscular y sus implicaciones en las características organolépticas de la carne bovina.

Resumo Antecedentes: O pH, a espessura da gordura subcutânea (SFT) e a cor, são variáveis importantes que definem as características organolépticas da carne de ruminantes. No entanto, sua relação multivariada em carne bovina até o momento permanece inexplorada. Objetivo: Investigar a relação multivariada entre o pH, SFT e os parâmetros de cor em carne bovina, utilizando a análise de correlação canônica. Métodos: Foi construído um banco de dados contendo 173 registros individuais de pH, SFT e parâmetros de cor (a*: intensidade de cor vermelha, b*: intensidade de cor amarela y L*: luminosidade) de cinco tipos de cortes de carne bovina brasileira (Raça: Nellore; cortes: acém, contrafilé, fraldinha, patinho e picanha). A relação multivariada entre variáveis de cor (a *, b * e L*) e variáveis químicas (pH e SFT) foi explorada usando o procedimento CANCORR do SAS. Resultados: Duas correlações canônicas entre as variáveis U (composta de a *, b * e L *, variáveis de cor) e V (composta de pH e SFT, variáveis químicas) foram significativas (p<0,01). A primeira e segunda correlação canônica foram 0,463 e 0,282, respectivamente. Os pesos canônicos para as variáveis canônicas foram para U1: a* = 0,707, b* = 0,406 e L* = -0,039; U2: a* = 0,364, b* = -0,898 e L* = 1,234; V1: pH = -0,376 e SFT = 0,935; V2: pH = 0,927 e SFT = 0,356. Conclusão: A espessura de gordura subcutânea afetou significativamente a intensidade das cores vermelha e amarela, enquanto o pH afetou significativamente a luminosidade, em carne bovina. Os resultados deste estudo podem ser úteis para entender melhor o papel do metabolismo muscular e suas implicações nas características organolépticas da carne bovina.