October 28, 2024

 

US study shows growth-promoting implants boost carcass weight and red meat yield in beef cattle

A recent study conducted by researchers at West Texas A&M University in Texas, US, has revealed significant advantages of using growth-promoting implants in beef cattle production, Beef Magazine reported.

 

The research, published in Applied Animal Science, demonstrates that implanted steers produce heavier carcasses and increased red meat yields compared to non-implanted animals.

 

The study was led by Ty Lawrence, PhD, PAS, the director of the Beef Carcass Research Centre at West Texas A&M University. Lawrence explained that while it is well-known that carcass weight increases as animals spend more days on feed, this weight gain often results in an undesirable increase in trim fat, diluting the percentage of valuable lean meat.

 

Considering this, the study aimed to investigate whether growth-promoting implants could influence this weight distribution more favourably. The researchers hypothesised that steers implanted with growth promoters would gain weight over extended feeding periods, but with improved lean meat yield and reduced fat accumulation.

 

For the study, 80 Charolais x Angus steers were paired and randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group received Revalor-XS implants, while the control group did not receive any implants. The steers were also randomly assigned to one of 10 slaughter dates, which spanned a feeding period from 0 to 378 days. At the time of slaughter, the researchers measured overall carcass weight, the yield of red meat (including primal and sub primal cuts), bone, and fat.

 

The results indicated that the implanted steers consistently had heavier carcasses, yielded more red meat, and showed similar fat deposition compared to the control group. Notably, all primal cuts, except the plate, and most sub primal cuts were heavier in the implanted group.

 

According to the data, steers administered growth-promoting implants (REV) showed increased cold side weights, bone yield, and red meat yield, with no significant difference in fat yield compared to non-implanted cattle (CON). Forequarter primal cuts, including chuck, brisket, foreshank, and rib, increased by 8.4%, 6.9%, 7.2%, and 5.2%, respectively. Hindquarter cuts, such as the loin, flank, and round, saw increases of 7.0%, 8.6%, and 6.3%, respectively.

 

David Beede, PhD, editor in chief of Applied Animal Science, remarked on the importance of the findings. He noted, "This research quantifies beef carcass fabrication yields and allometric coefficients of carcass components of implanted and non-implanted beef steers," and added that the results suggest "implanted steers had greater carcass and red meat yields than those not implanted."

 

Ty Lawrence echoed this sentiment, highlighting the economic potential of using growth-promoting implants in beef production. "Our findings suggest that growth-promoting implants can be a valuable tool for beef producers looking to improve their bottom line," Lawrence said. "By increasing carcass yield and red meat production, implanted steers can offer greater economic returns."

 

-      Beef Magazine