Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The impact of two different hormonal growth promotants (HGPs) on the eating quality of feedlot-finished steer carcasses

D. T. Packer A D , G. H. Geesink A , R. Polkinghorne B , J. M. Thompson A and A. J. Ball C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

B Birkenwood Pty Ltd, 431 Timor Road, Murrurundi, NSW 2338, Australia.

C Herefords Australia, 16 Uralla Road, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: dpacker@mla.com.au

Animal Production Science 59(2) 384-394 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN17121
Submitted: 2 March 2017  Accepted: 19 September 2017   Published: 25 May 2018

Abstract

The Meat Standards Australia beef-grading model applies a variable adjustment for different cuts of hormonal growth promotant (HGP)-treated carcasses, but does not differentiate between different HGP types. Using 300 non-implanted Bos indicusBos taurus composite steers, an experiment was conducted to compare the effects of an oestradiol only (OES) and a combination trenbolone acetate and oestradiol (TBA+OES) implant with non-implanted animals (CON) fed a concentrate ration for 73 days before slaughter, on eating quality of the mm. longissimus lumborum (LL) and gluteus medius (GM) muscles. Sensory and objective LL and GM samples were aged for either 5 or 35 days before freezing at −20°C. Carcass weights from each group were significantly (P < 0.05) different. Corrected for carcass weight, HGP treatment had a significant effect on hump height, ossification score, marble score, P8 fat depth and eye-muscle area. The TBA+OES treatment resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) tougher meat than the OES and CON treatments as assessed by shear force, although this difference was reduced with aging. Sensory scores (tenderness, juiciness, like flavour, overall liking and a composite MQ4 score) confirmed a negative HGP treatment effect, whereby TBA+OES was significantly lower than the CON and OES treatments after 5 days of aging, and these differences were reduced through aging. TBA+OES had a greater impact on sensory scores in the LL when compared to the GM. Both HGP treatments increased calpastatin activity, and the TBA+OES treatment was significantly (P < 0.05) different from the CON and OES treatments. It was concluded that OES and TBA+OES implants have different impacts on meat eating-quality measurements, which could have important implications for the Australian and international beef industry.

Additional keywords: beef eating quality, calpastatin activity, sensory scores, shear force, tenderness.


References

Anderson PT (1991) Trenbolone acetate as a growth promotant. The Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian 13, 1179–1190.

Anderson PT, Johnson BJ, Dikeman M (2014) Metabolic modifiers. In ‘Encyclopedia of meat sciences’. 2nd edn. pp. 62–69. (Elsevier: London, UK)

Apple JK, Dikeman ME, Simms DD, Kuhl G (1991) Effects of synthetic hormone implants, singularly or in combinations, on performance, carcass traits, and longissimus muscle palatability of Holstein steers. Journal of Animal Science 69, 4437–4448.
Effects of synthetic hormone implants, singularly or in combinations, on performance, carcass traits, and longissimus muscle palatability of Holstein steers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

AUSMEAT (2005) ‘Handbook of Australian meat.’ 7th edn. (AUSMEAT Ltd: Brisbane)

Bouffault JC, Willemart JP (1983) Anabolic activity of trenbolone acetate alone or in association with estrogens. In ‘Anabolics in animal production: public health aspects, analytical methods and regulation’. (Ed. E Meissonnier) pp. 156–179. (Office International des Epizooties: Paris)

Burnham DL, Morris ST, Purchas RW, McCutcheon SN (1997) Effects of Compudose® and Rumensin®, alone or in combination, on the growth, and carcass and meat quality of steers finished on pasture. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 40, 231–238.
Effects of Compudose® and Rumensin®, alone or in combination, on the growth, and carcass and meat quality of steers finished on pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Capper JL, Hayes DJ (2012) The environmental and economic impact of removing growth-enhancing technologies from US beef production. Journal of Animal Science 90, 3527–3537.
The environmental and economic impact of removing growth-enhancing technologies from US beef production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Davies BL (2008) Economic evaluation of hormonal growth promotants (HGPs). MLA Report: B.NBP.0506. Meat and Livestock Australia.

Dayton WR, White ME (2013) Mechanisms of anabolic steroid action in bovine skeletal muscle. In ‘Evaluating veterinary pharmaceutical behavior in the environment. Vol. 1126’. (Eds GP Cobb, PN Smith) pp. 1–12. (American Chemical Society: Washington, DC)

Dikeman ME (2007) Effects of metabolic modifiers on carcass traits and meat quality. Meat Science 77, 121–135.
Effects of metabolic modifiers on carcass traits and meat quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Duckett SK, Pratt SL (2014) Meat science and muscle biology symposium: anabolic implants and meat quality. Journal of Animal Science 92, 3–9.
Meat science and muscle biology symposium: anabolic implants and meat quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Duckett SK, Owens FN, Andrae JG (1997) Effects of implants on performance and carcass traits of feedlot steers and heifers. In ‘1997 Oklahoma State University implant symposium’, Oklahoma, USA. pp. 63–82.

Duckett SK, Wagner DG, Owens FN, Dolezal HG, Gill DR (1999) Effect of anabolic implants on beef intramuscular lipid content. Journal of Animal Science 77, 1100–1104.
Effect of anabolic implants on beef intramuscular lipid content.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fitzpatrick LA, Parker AJ, Zerby HN (2013) Meat quality of grain finished entire male Bos indicus cattle. In ‘Proceedings of the Northern Beef Research Update Conference’, 12–15 August 2013, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. pp. 35-42. (North Australian Beef Research Council: Gympie, Qld)

Foutz CP, Dolezal HG, Gardner TL, Gill DR, Hensley JL, Morgan JB (1997) Anabolic implant effects on steer performance, carcass traits, subprimal yields, and longissimus muscle properties. Journal of Animal Science 75, 1256–1265.
Anabolic implant effects on steer performance, carcass traits, subprimal yields, and longissimus muscle properties.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Geesink GH, Kuchay S, Chishti AH, Koohmaraie M (2006) μ-calpain is essential for postmortem proteolysis of muscle proteins. Journal of Animal Science 84, 2834–2840.
μ-calpain is essential for postmortem proteolysis of muscle proteins.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gerken CL, Tatum JD, Morgan JB, Smith GC (1995) Use of genetically identical (clone) steers to determine the effects of estrogenic and androgenic implants on beef quality and palatability characteristics. Journal of Animal Science 73, 3317–3324.
Use of genetically identical (clone) steers to determine the effects of estrogenic and androgenic implants on beef quality and palatability characteristics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Goll DE, Thompson VF, Taylor RG, Christiansen JA (1992) Role of the calpain system in muscle growth. Biochimie 74, 225–237.
Role of the calpain system in muscle growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hunter RA (2010) Hormonal growth promotant use in the Australian beef industry. Animal Production Science 50, 637–659.
Hormonal growth promotant use in the Australian beef industry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hunter RA, Magner T, Allingham PG (2000) Sustained growth promotion, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of steers treated with oestradiol-17β. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 51, 133–138.
Sustained growth promotion, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of steers treated with oestradiol-17β.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Johnson BJ, Reinhardt CD (2008) Growth promotants for beef production: anabolic seroids: performance responses and mode of action. In ‘Food animal practice’. (Eds DE Anderson, M Rings) pp. 643–651. (Elsevier)

Johnson BJ, Halstead N, White ME, Hathaway MR, DiCostanzo A, Dayton WR (1998) Activation state of muscle satellite cells isolated from steers implanted with a combined trenbolone acetate and estradiol implant. Journal of Animal Science 76, 2779–2786.
Activation state of muscle satellite cells isolated from steers implanted with a combined trenbolone acetate and estradiol implant.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Koohmaraie M (1990) Quantification of Ca2(+)-dependent protease activities by hydrophobic and ion-exchange chromatography. Journal of Animal Science 68, 659–65.
Quantification of Ca2(+)-dependent protease activities by hydrophobic and ion-exchange chromatography.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Koohmaraie M, Geesink GH (2006) Contribution of postmortem muscle biochemistry to the delivery of consistent meat quality with particular focus on the calpain system. Meat Science 74, 34–43.
Contribution of postmortem muscle biochemistry to the delivery of consistent meat quality with particular focus on the calpain system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Koohmaraie M, Kent MP, Shackelford SD, Veiseth E, Wheeler TL (2002) Meat tenderness and muscle growth: is there any relationship? Meat Science 62, 345–352.
Meat tenderness and muscle growth: is there any relationship?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McCrabb GJ, Hunter RA (2002) Lifetime methane production is reduced when beef cattle are repeatedly treated with an hormonal growth promotant. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 24, 327

Morgan B (1997) Implant program effects on USDA beef carcass quality grade traits and meat tenderness. In ‘1997 Oklahoma State University implant symposium’, Oklahoma, USA.

Nichols WT, Gaylean ML, Thomson DU, Hutcheson JP (2002) Effects of steroid implants on the tenderness of beef. The Professional Animal Scientist 18, 202–210.
Effects of steroid implants on the tenderness of beef.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ouali A, Talmant A (1990) Calpains and calpastatin distribution in bovine, porcine and ovine skeletal muscles. Meat Science 28, 331–348.
Calpains and calpastatin distribution in bovine, porcine and ovine skeletal muscles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ouali A, Zabari M, Renou JP, Touraille C, Kopp J, Bonnet M, Valin C (1988) Anabolic agents in beef production: effects on muscle traits and meat quality. Meat Science 24, 151–161.
Anabolic agents in beef production: effects on muscle traits and meat quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Perry D, Shorthose WR, Ferguson DM, Thompson JM (2001) Methods used in the CRC program for the determination of carcass yield and beef quality. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 953–957.
Methods used in the CRC program for the determination of carcass yield and beef quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Platter WJ, Tatum JD, Belk KE, Scanga JA, Smith GC (2003) Effects of repetitive use of hormonal implants on beef carcass quality, tenderness, and consumer ratings of beef palatability. Journal of Animal Science 81, 984–996.
Effects of repetitive use of hormonal implants on beef carcass quality, tenderness, and consumer ratings of beef palatability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Polkinghorne R, Thompson JM, Watson R, Gee A, Porter M (2008) Evolution of the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) beef grading system. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1351–1359.
Evolution of the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) beef grading system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Preston RL (1999) Hormone containing growth promoting implants in farmed livestock. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 38, 123–138.
Hormone containing growth promoting implants in farmed livestock.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reinhardt CD, Wagner JJ (2014) High-dose anabolic implants are not all the same for growth and carcass traits of feedlot steers: a meta-analysis. Journal of Animal Science 92, 4711–4718.
High-dose anabolic implants are not all the same for growth and carcass traits of feedlot steers: a meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

SAS (2002) Applied statistics and the SAS programming language, version 9. (Cary, NC)

Schneider BA, Tatum JD, Engle TE, Bryant TC (2007) Effects of heifer finishing implants on beef carcass traits and longissimus tenderness. Journal of Animal Science 85, 2019–2030.
Effects of heifer finishing implants on beef carcass traits and longissimus tenderness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Shackelford SD, Koohmaraie M, Miller MF, Crouse JD, Reagan JO (1991) An evaluation of tenderness of the longissimus muscle of Angus by Hereford versus Brahman crossbred heifers. Journal of Animal Science 69, 171–177.
An evaluation of tenderness of the longissimus muscle of Angus by Hereford versus Brahman crossbred heifers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Shackelford SD, Koohmaraie M, Cundiff LV, Gregory KE, Rohrer GA, Savell JW (1994) Heritabilities and phenotypic and genetic correlations for bovine postrigor calpastatin activity, intramuscular fat content, Warner–Bratzler shear force, retail product yield, and growth rate. Journal of Animal Science 72, 857–863.
Heritabilities and phenotypic and genetic correlations for bovine postrigor calpastatin activity, intramuscular fat content, Warner–Bratzler shear force, retail product yield, and growth rate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tatum JD (2009) Growth technologies: performance benefits and quality considerations. In ‘Meat science and muscle biology symposium: balancing live cattle performance and beef quality, joint ADSA–CSAS–ASAS annual meeting’, 13 July 2009, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. pp. 1–30.

Thompson JM, McIntyre BM, Tudor GD, Pethick DW, Polkinghorne R, Watson R (2008a) Effects of hormonal growth promotants (HGP) on growth, carcass characteristics, the palatability of different muscles in the beef carcass and their interaction with aging. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1405–1414.
Effects of hormonal growth promotants (HGP) on growth, carcass characteristics, the palatability of different muscles in the beef carcass and their interaction with aging.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Thompson JM, Polkinghorne R, Porter M, Burrow HM, Hunter RA, McCrabb GJ, Watson R (2008b) Effect of repeated implants of oestradiol-17β on beef palatability in Brahman and Braham cross steers finished to different market end points. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1434–1441.
Effect of repeated implants of oestradiol-17β on beef palatability in Brahman and Braham cross steers finished to different market end points.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Watson R (2008) Meta-analysis of the published effects of HGP use on beef palatability in steers as measured by objective and sensory testing. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1425–1433.
Meta-analysis of the published effects of HGP use on beef palatability in steers as measured by objective and sensory testing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Watson R, Gee A, Polkinghorne R, Porter M (2008a) Consumer assessment of eating quality: development of protocols for Meat Standards Australia (MSA) testing, accesory publication – MSA sensory testing protocols. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1360–1367.
Consumer assessment of eating quality: development of protocols for Meat Standards Australia (MSA) testing, accesory publication – MSA sensory testing protocols.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Watson R, Polkinghorne R, Gee A, Porter M, Thompson JM, Ferguson D, Pethick D, McIntyre B (2008b) Effect of hormonal growth promotants on palatability and carcass traits of various muscles from steer and heifer carcasses from a Bos indicusBos taurus composite cross. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1415–1424.
Effect of hormonal growth promotants on palatability and carcass traits of various muscles from steer and heifer carcasses from a Bos indicusBos taurus composite cross.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Watson R, Polkinghorne R, Thompson JM (2008c) Development of the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) prediction model for beef palatability. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1368–1379.
Development of the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) prediction model for beef palatability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |