Document Type

Report

Report Number

2005-7

Publication Date

2005

Keywords

heiferettes, calcium

Summary

Forty beef-type heiferettes (initial BW=1016 ± 93 lb) were used to evaluate the influence of dietary calcium depletion followed by dietary repletion prior to slaughter on carcass and meat quality traits. Treatments were 1.) control - feed calcium diet for duration of trial (13 hd); 2.) calcium depleted 14 days followed by one feeding of replete diet 20 h prior to slaughter (13 hd); 3.) calcium depleted 14 days followed by two feedings of repleted diet 20 h and 44 h before harvest (14 hd). Heifers were sorted on condition and weight from a larger population of 280 head. Heiferettes were fed 56 d before the initiation of the treatments. Treatments were initiated 16 d prior to slaughter. No differences in ADG or F:G were observed during this time. At harvest, no differences were found for end weight, dressing percent, hot carcass weight, backfat, ribeye area, yield grade or marbling score. Measurements of tenderness were conducted using Warner Bratzler Shear force. No differences were observed with 39% of the carcasses classified as tough (greater than 5.0 lb of shear force).

Number of Pages

5

Format

application/pdf

Language

en

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

Copyright © 2005 South Dakota State University

Share

COinS