Supplementary Feeding of Economas E®Improves Storage Life of Hanwoo Beef

Abstract

Vitamin E has been applied as a dietary supplement or post mortem to meat cuts to preserve meat quality and extend shelf life. This study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementation of the diet of Hanwoo steers with Economas <TEX>$E^{(R)}$</TEX>, a less expensive alternative to vitamin E, on meat quality preservation. To accomplish this, 36 Hanwoo steers were randomly allotted into three treatment groups ; no additive (control), Economas <TEX>$E^{(R)}$</TEX>(T1) and vitamin E (T2). Vitamin E and Economas <TEX>$E^{(R)}$</TEX> were included in the diets at 500 mg/head and 200 mg/head, respectively, for 5 months. Evaluation of carcass performance parameters immediately after slaughter revealed no treatment effects (P>0.05). Samples collected from the loin area and stored at <TEX>$4^{\circ}C$</TEX> for up to 9 days showed that T1 and T2 preserved pigment and lipid stability as indicated by significantly (P<0.05) higher CIE <TEX>$L^*$</TEX> and lower CIE <TEX>$a^*$</TEX> and CIE <TEX>$b^*$</TEX> values and a less rapid increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) relative to the control. However, treatments had no effect (P>0.05) on cholesterol and fatty acid content in meat. Based on these findings, Economas <TEX>$E^{(R)}$</TEX> provided at 200 mg/head is as effective as vitamin E applied at 500 mg/head at preserving Hanwoo meat quality over a 9 day storage period at <TEX>$4^{\circ}C$</TEX>.