Animal performance, carcass characteristics and beef quality of steers fed with a whole oat or maize grain-based diet

Aim of study: We evaluated the use of oat grain as an alternative source of energy to maize grain in high energy finishing diets. Maize crop production in arid and semi-arid areas is poor or non-existent. Thus, small grains such as oats have become an alternative in high energy rations due to their...

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Main Authors: María Sol VILLAVERDE, Ayelén MAYO, Hugo M. ARELOVICH, Rodrigo D. BRAVO, Mariano MENGHINI, Marcela F. MARTÍNEZ
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria 2023-09-01
Series:Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sjar.revistas.csic.es/index.php/sjar/article/view/20233
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author María Sol VILLAVERDE
Ayelén MAYO
Hugo M. ARELOVICH
Rodrigo D. BRAVO
Mariano MENGHINI
Marcela F. MARTÍNEZ
author_facet María Sol VILLAVERDE
Ayelén MAYO
Hugo M. ARELOVICH
Rodrigo D. BRAVO
Mariano MENGHINI
Marcela F. MARTÍNEZ
author_sort María Sol VILLAVERDE
collection DOAJ
description Aim of study: We evaluated the use of oat grain as an alternative source of energy to maize grain in high energy finishing diets. Maize crop production in arid and semi-arid areas is poor or non-existent. Thus, small grains such as oats have become an alternative in high energy rations due to their versatility and ease of cultivation. Area of study: Semiarid region of Buenos Aires province, Argentina Material and methods: Sixteen Angus steers were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments based on whole oats grain (OD) or whole maize grain (MD) for 61 days. Diets were formulated iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic. Animal performance, carcass attributes and beef quality traits were evaluated. Longissimus thoracis steaks were wet-aged at 4°C for either 4 or 14 days. Main results: Similar results were found between OD and MD for the variables of performance, carcass evaluation and water retention in fresh meat. No interactions between diet and ageing period were found for any of the variables evaluated. The MD beef was lighter and had a redder appearance than the OD beef. The 4 days-aged beef showed higher values of L*, a* and b* and was more saturated than the 14 days-aged beef. However, the perception of beef colour by the human eye, evaluated through the CIEDE2000 metric, showed no differences among diets and ageing periods. Research highlights: Oat grain could be used in replacement of maize grain as an energy source in fattening rations of beef cattle, obtaining similar animal performance and meat quality.
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spelling doaj.art-4ad72327cd5e4225945f4e1f2e8b433f2023-11-15T08:51:44ZengInstituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y AlimentariaSpanish Journal of Agricultural Research1695-971X2171-92922023-09-0121410.5424/sjar/2023214-20233Animal performance, carcass characteristics and beef quality of steers fed with a whole oat or maize grain-based diet María Sol VILLAVERDE0Ayelén MAYO1Hugo M. ARELOVICH2Rodrigo D. BRAVO3Mariano MENGHINI4Marcela F. MARTÍNEZ5Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, ArgentinaEstación Experimental Agropecuaria INTA Bordenave, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Ruta Provincial 76 – km 36.5, 8187 Bordenave, ArgentinaDepartamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, ArgentinaDepartamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, ArgentinaDepartamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, ArgentinaDepartamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), San Andrés 800, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina Aim of study: We evaluated the use of oat grain as an alternative source of energy to maize grain in high energy finishing diets. Maize crop production in arid and semi-arid areas is poor or non-existent. Thus, small grains such as oats have become an alternative in high energy rations due to their versatility and ease of cultivation. Area of study: Semiarid region of Buenos Aires province, Argentina Material and methods: Sixteen Angus steers were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments based on whole oats grain (OD) or whole maize grain (MD) for 61 days. Diets were formulated iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic. Animal performance, carcass attributes and beef quality traits were evaluated. Longissimus thoracis steaks were wet-aged at 4°C for either 4 or 14 days. Main results: Similar results were found between OD and MD for the variables of performance, carcass evaluation and water retention in fresh meat. No interactions between diet and ageing period were found for any of the variables evaluated. The MD beef was lighter and had a redder appearance than the OD beef. The 4 days-aged beef showed higher values of L*, a* and b* and was more saturated than the 14 days-aged beef. However, the perception of beef colour by the human eye, evaluated through the CIEDE2000 metric, showed no differences among diets and ageing periods. Research highlights: Oat grain could be used in replacement of maize grain as an energy source in fattening rations of beef cattle, obtaining similar animal performance and meat quality. https://sjar.revistas.csic.es/index.php/sjar/article/view/20233beef cattlemeat qualitycolourwater-holding capacity
spellingShingle María Sol VILLAVERDE
Ayelén MAYO
Hugo M. ARELOVICH
Rodrigo D. BRAVO
Mariano MENGHINI
Marcela F. MARTÍNEZ
Animal performance, carcass characteristics and beef quality of steers fed with a whole oat or maize grain-based diet
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research
beef cattle
meat quality
colour
water-holding capacity
title Animal performance, carcass characteristics and beef quality of steers fed with a whole oat or maize grain-based diet
title_full Animal performance, carcass characteristics and beef quality of steers fed with a whole oat or maize grain-based diet
title_fullStr Animal performance, carcass characteristics and beef quality of steers fed with a whole oat or maize grain-based diet
title_full_unstemmed Animal performance, carcass characteristics and beef quality of steers fed with a whole oat or maize grain-based diet
title_short Animal performance, carcass characteristics and beef quality of steers fed with a whole oat or maize grain-based diet
title_sort animal performance carcass characteristics and beef quality of steers fed with a whole oat or maize grain based diet
topic beef cattle
meat quality
colour
water-holding capacity
url https://sjar.revistas.csic.es/index.php/sjar/article/view/20233
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