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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414518
Research Project: Environmental and Management Influences on Animal Productivity and Well-Being Phenotypes

Location: Livestock Issues Research

Title: Vitamin C supplementation prior to transportation affects ante- and postmortem oxidative products in composite calves

Author
item BARKER, SAMANTHA - Texas Tech University
item Broadway, Paul
item Sanchez, Nicole
item LEGAKO, JERRAD - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: American Meat Science Association Conference Reciprocal Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/18/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation prior to transportation on the ante- and post-mortem oxidative measures in calves exposed to transport stress. Materials and Methods: Composite calves (n = 40) were transported to the USDA-ARS LIRU, and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups on d -4: Negative control (Neg), Positive control (Pos), Oral amino acid drench (Drench), and Vitamin C injection (Vit C). Calves were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters on d -1. Plasma was isolated from whole blood at -12, -1, 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 h, and immediately prior to harvest on the d of the challenge (d 0). Plasma was analyzed for indicators of oxidative stress and ascorbic acid concentrations. Calves were humanely euthanized at 6 h post-challenge, and the Longissimus dorsi (LD) was immediately collected, vacuum packaged, and stored under refrigeration until 7 d post-mortem. Steaks from the LD were fabricated into 2.54 cm thick steaks and allocated to retail display of 0, 3, 6, or 9 d. Steaks displayed 9 d were evaluated for instrumental and trained color every 12 h. All steaks were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations following aging. Time, treatment, and their interactions were analyzed with calf as a repeated measure using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Results: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were greatest in Vit C calves through the ante-mortem challenge period (P < 0.05), except at 4 h where all other treatment groups were greater (P < 0.05). Vitamin C treated calves had the lowest L* values of all treatment groups during display (P < 0.001), where all other treatment groups were similar (P > 0.05). Vitamin C steaks also exhibited MDA concentrations approximately 6 times greater than any other treatment group (P < 0.05), although MDA values did increase for all treatments as days of display increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These data suggest that there may be an optimal time to provide supplementation prior to transport without causing the oxidative effects exhibited in the current data. Further evaluation of supplementation types is still necessary to understand potential benefits on meat quality.