In a new study published in the journal Translational Animal Science, Texas A&M University researchers found the maternal bovine appeasing substance FerAppease improved carcass characteristics in finishing cattle.
FerAppease is a relatively new product that is essentially a maternal hormone topically applied above an animal’s nose and to the back of head to decrease stress. The product is intended to be used when animals are exposed to management and physiological stressors, such as weaning, castration, dehorning, etc.
In the study, “Administering the maternal appeasing substance before slaughter to improve carcass characteristics of finishing cattle,” researchers found the product could be a potential alternative to improve carcass dressing by alleviating the stress involved in the slaughter process.
“Feedlot cattle are exposed to several stressors during processing for slaughter, such as handling, transport, and exposure to new environments, that directly impact their carcass and meat quality traits,” the study read. “Therefore, strategies to mitigate stress in feedlot cattle prior to and during slaughter are warranted.”
The researchers noted that administration of a maternal bovine appeasing substance (mBAS)should be passive and without physical handling or processing, otherwise the benefits will be negated by the stressors.
As oilers are often added to feedlot pens as self-treatment options for insecticides, the researchers hypothesized oilers could also be used to administer FerAppease. The study looked at two experiments: the use of oilers with mBAS on finishing cattle in a large-pen commercial feedyard in Oklahoma, and the use of oilers with or without mBAS in a small-pen research feedyard in Texas. The first experiment evaluated the effect of mBAS on carcass characteristics, and the second experiment analyzed post-slaughter serum cortisol concentrations and carcass traits.
Experiment 1
In the first experiment, 954 Angus-influenced steers were sorted in six pens according to similar weights. An oiler containing FerAppease was placed in one of the pens a week before slaughter. This process was replicated across all six original pens within a 64-day timeframe. Steers from each original pen were slaughtered on the same day.
Bodyweight gain and final bodyweights were similar between steers given mBAS and steers not given mBAS, which was expected due to the short administration timeframe and the lack of major stressors. There was also no major difference in Choice or Prime grading, which was also expected due to the short administration timeframe. The number of dark cutters decreased three-fold by treating with FerAppease.
Carcass dressing was found to be greater by 1.7 percentage points in steers administered mBAS.
“It seems plausible that mBAS administration increased carcass dressing by alleviating the stress elicited by the slaughter process, thus reducing body tissue wastage and increasing (water holding capacity) of muscle cells,” the study said.
Treatment effects on carcass dressing were not enough to impact hot carcass weights, however.
Experiment 2
In the second experiment, 80 Angus-influenced steers were housed in 16 different pens, arranged by four rows of four pens. Rows were alternately assigned to receive an oiler containing FerAppease or a mineral oil placebo seven days prior to slaughter.
Blood samples were collected from the steers at slaughter. No treatment effects were detected for body weight, as well as carcass marbling score, backfat thickness, Longissimus muscle area, yield grade or proportion that graded Choice or Prime. As with the first experiment, steers in the second experiment were not expected to see effects on bodyweight gain, muscle development or intramuscular and subcutaneous fat due to the short administration period.
Carcass dressings were greater by 1 percentage point in steers that received mBAS, but not at a level to impact hot carcass weights. No treatment effects were noted for the number of steers classified as dark cutters, despite decreasing two-fold in mBAS-treated steers.
Plasma concentration of cortisol upon slaughter decreased by 44% in mBAS steers. “This outcome supports our hypothesis and provides initial evidence that mBAS administration alleviated the stress elicited during processing for slaughter,” the study authors said.
The researchers noted additional research is warranted to validate their rationale that the increases in carcass weight may be associated with less body tissue wastage and increased water holding capacity of muscle cells.
Overall, the researchers concluded administering FerAppease to finishing cattle reduced the cortisol response elicited by the process of slaughter, which likely resulted in increased carcass dressing. However, they added that further research is still warranted to further characterize the benefits of mBAS use in finishing cattle prior to slaughter. — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
