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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #315204
Title: Effects of glycerin concentration in steam-flaked corn-based diets with supplemental yellow grease on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing beef steers

Author
item BUTTREY, E - West Texas A & M University
item LUEBBE, M - Texas A&M Agrilife
item MCCOLLUM, F - Texas A&M Agrilife
item Cole, Noel
item MACDONALD, J - Texas A&M Agrilife
item Hales Paxton, Kristin

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/30/2015
Publication Date: 7/1/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61319
Citation: Buttrey, E.K., Luebbe, M.K., McCollum III, F.T., Cole, N.A., MacDonald, J.C., Hales, K.E. 2015. Effects of glycerin concentration in steam-flaked corn-based diets with supplemental yellow grease on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing beef steers. Journal of Animal Science. 93(7):3698-3703.

Interpretive Summary: Forty-eight individually fed steers were used to determine if glycerin could be fed in feedlot diets with added fat without decreasing animal growth performance and carcass characteristics. Glycerin was included at 0, 2.5, 5, and 10% dry matter replacing corn in the diet. There was no benefit to average daily gain or feed efficiency from feeding glycerin and carcass fat thickness was decreased when glycerin was included in the diet. Based on our results there would be no benefit to replacing corn with glycerin for improving animal performance or carcass merit in feedlot steers. However, if economically feasible, glycerin could be used without decreasing cattle production.

Technical Abstract: Forty-eight individually fed crossbred steers (initial BW = 381 ± 7.61 kg) were used to determine the effects of glycerin (GLY) concentration in steam-flaked corn (SFC)-based diets with added yellow grease on animal performance and carcass characteristics. Glycerin was included at 0, 2.5, 5, and 10% dietary DM replacing SFC. A completely randomized design was used with steer as the experimental unit and the model included the fixed effects of diet. Contrast statements were used to determine linear and quadratic effects of GLY inclusion. Final BW and DMI were not affected (P > 0.27) by GLY concentration. Average daily gain and G:F efficiency based on live BW did not differ as GLY level increased in the diet from 0 to 10% of DM (P > 0.33). Carcass-adjusted final BW and carcass-adjusted G:F efficiency were also not affected by GLY concentration (P > 0.22); however, carcass-adjusted ADG tended to respond quadratically by decreasing from 2.5 to 5% GLY inclusion and increasing thereafter (P = 0.10). Calculated dietary NEm and NEg did not differ as GLY increased in the diet (P > 0.37). Hot carcass weight tended to respond quadratically decreasing from 2.5 to 5% GLY and increasing thereafter (P = 0.10). Likewise, dressing percentage tended to respond quadratically decreasing from 2.5 to 5% GLY inclusion and increasing to 10% GLY inclusion (P = 0.09). Fat thickness decreased linearly as GLY inclusion increased in the diet (P < 0.01); however, no differences were detected in marbling score and LM area (P > 0.21). Calculated YG decreased linearly as GLY increased in the diet from 0 to 10% of DM (P = 0.04). Based on our results there would be no benefit to replacing SFC with GLY for either improving animal performance or carcass merit.