Effects of duration of zilpaterol supplementation on growth-performance, dietary energetics, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of crossbred yearling heifers slaughtered at lighter, less-than-mature final body weight (460 kg)

Abstract

Our objective was to examine the effects of duration of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) supplementation on growth performance, estimated dietary energetics, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in crossbred yearling heifers when slaughtered at lighter, less-mature final weight. Treatments consisted of a finishing diet based on steam-flaked corn supplemented with (1) 0 ZH (negative control); (2) 0.15 mg of ZH/kg of live weight supplemented for 20 of the final 23 d of the finishing period; (3) 0.15 mg of ZH/kg of live weight supplemented for 25 of the final 28 d of the finishing period, or (4) 0.15 mg of ZH/kg of live weight supplemented for 30 of the final 33 d of the finishing period. Duration of ZH supplementation did not affect ( P ≥ 0.15) any of the variables measured. Compared with the control, ZH increased ( P ≤ 0.02) carcass-adjusted weight gain, G:F, and apparent dietary NE. Zilpaterol supplementation also increased ( P ≤ 0.05) hot carcass weight, carcass DP, and LM area without effects on USDA QG, fat thickness, or KPH fat. Zilpaterol supplementation increased ( P < 0.01) gross retail cuts by 3.6%, when adjusting to a constant carcass weight. There were no treatment effects ( P ≥ 0.11) on shear force or meat color. Zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation in heifers slaughtered at a final weight that was less than was estimated to be mature (460 kg) improved growth performance, hot carcass weight, carcass DP, LM area, and retail cuts in a manner consistent with results of previous studies in which heifers were slaughtered at heavier (>550 kg) BW. Effects of ZH on meat quality was not significant. Reducing ZH feeding duration from 30 to 20 d may not adversely affect growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality.