PSIV-8 Effects of Late Gestation Calcium Salts of Fatty Acids Supplementation to Beef Cows on Offspring Finishing Phase Performance and Carcass Characteristics

Abstract

Abstract The objective was to investigate the effects of late-gestation supplementation of Ca salts of fatty acids to beef cows on the finishing phase growth performance and carcass characteristics of the steer progeny. Ninety-six multiparous, fall-calving, Angus × Simmental cows (BW = 601 ± 76 kg) were stratified by BW, BCS, and age and randomly allotted into 8 endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures with 12 cows/pasture. Cows were supplemented with soybean hulls mixed with either 155 g/cow/d of EnerGII (SFA/MUFA; enriched with palmitic and oleic acids) or 80 g/cow/d of Prequel + 80 g/cow/d of Strata (PUFA; enriched with linoleic acid, EPA, and DHA) for the last 77 ± 6 d of gestation. Steer progeny (n = 70) were weaned at 186 ± 6 d of age and transported to feedlot. Steers were fed receiving diets for 3 weeks and transitioned to finishing diets and adapted to GrowSafe feed bunks for individual daily feed intake measurement. Steers were weighed every 28 d during the finishing phase. Steers were slaughtered at commercial abattoir at 432 ± 6 d of age, and carcass data were obtained from USDA camera grading system. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, and repeated measure was used for BW. There were no differences (P ≥ 0.13) for BW, ADG, DMI, or feed conversion during the finishing phase. There was no differences (P ≥ 0.22) observed in hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, 12th rib fat thickness, yield grade, ribeye area, marbling score, or KPH fat. In conclusion, maternal supplementation of Ca salts of fatty acids during late gestation did not affect steer progeny growth performance during the finishing phase or carcass characteristics.