Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #306742

Title: Mineral composition of serial slaughter Holstesin carcasses

Author
item WATSON, ANDREA - University Of Nebraska
item MCEVERS, TRENT - West Texas A & M University
item WALTER, LE-ANNE - West Texas A & M University
item MAY, NATHAN - West Texas A & M University
item REED, JACOB - West Texas A & M University
item Cole, Noel
item LAWRENCE, TY - West Texas A & M University
item MACDONALD, JIM - University Of Nebraska
item ERICKSON, GALEN - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Nebraska Beef Reports
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2014
Publication Date: 1/15/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60541
Citation: Watson, A.K., Mcevers, T.J., Walter, L.J., May, N.D., Reed, J.A., Cole, N.A., Lawrence, T.E., Macdonald, J.C., Erickson, G.E. 2015. Mineral composition of serial slaughter Holstesin carcasses. Nebraska Beef Reports. University of Nebraska-Extension. 01-111-114.

Interpretive Summary: In order to determine the mineral reqirements of cattle it is necessary to understand the quantity of minerals that are retained in the tissues of the animal as it grows. However, the data currently used to estimate these values by the National Research Council is over 60 years old and probably does not apply to modern day feeding and management practices. One hundred fifteen Holstein steers were fed typical finishing diets with or without the growth promotent Zilmax and were slaughterd at 28 day intervals. Carcasses of the steers were divided into lean, bone, internal cavity, hide, and fat tissues. The tissues were weighed and analyzed for phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium and sulfur. There were no differences due to days on feed or Zilmax treatment on mineral retention expressed as grams per 100 grams of protein retained. However retention of phosphorus and calcium was appreciably greater than values currently used in the NRC, Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle.

Technical Abstract: In order to determine the mineral requirements of cattle it is necessary to understand the quantity of minerals that are retained in the tissues of the animal as it grows. However, the data currently used to estimate these values by the National Research Council is over 60 years old and probably does not apply to modern day feeding and management practices. One hundred fifteen Holstein steers were fed typical finishing diets with or without the growth promotent Zilmax and were slaughterd at 28 day intervals. Carcasses of the steers were divided into lean, bone, internal cavity, hide, and fat tissues. The tissues were weighed and analyzed for phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium and sulfur. There were no differences due to days on feed or Zilmax treatment on mineral retention expressed as grams per 100 grams of protein retained. However retention of phosphorus and calcium was appreciably greater than values currently used in the NRC, Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle.