Prediction of carcass and empty body composition of steers by 40K emission detection.

Although originally used for prediction of whole body composition (WBC), use of 40K emission detection was later suggested for determination of empty body composition (EBC), Therefore, the present study was conducted to validate existing equations developed to predict WBC and to develop more useful equations to predict EBC or carcass composition (CC) of beef steers. Fourteen crossbred steers were detected for 40K emissions and slaughtered and their chemical composition determined from chemical analyses and total body K determined from 40K emissions. the existing equation for percentage whole body lipid had a slope of .93 and an intercept of -1.62%, indicating a close approximation of percentage of whole body lipid. Percentage of whole body protein was poorly estimated by existing equations. Equations developed for prediction of EBC relied on both BW and predicted K. Coefficients of variation for prediction of empty water or protein were within 5% and those for prediction of empty body lipid were approximately 15%. These results demonstrate that use of predicted K from 40K emission detection enhances the determination of EBC and CC.

Performance, clinical chemistry, and carcass responses of finishing lambs to formulated sometribove (methionyl bovine somatotropin).

Formulated zinc methionyl bST (sometribove, 50, 100, or 150 mg) was administered as a single treatment once every 2 wk or as two equal treatments once/week to evaluate the efficacy of prolonged release delivery of bovine somatotropin (bST) in finishing lambs. Feed conversion during the 6-wk treatment period was improved 9 and 19% in lambs that received treatments once and twice/2 wk, respectively (P < .05), and the responses to differing doses were similar within a dosing frequency (P > .05). Carcass muscle:fat ratio indicators generally were affected in a dose-related manner and were independent of frequency of administration. For example, fat thickness was 17, 30, and 42% lower than control in lambs that received 50, 100, and 150 mg of formulated sometribove/2 wk, respectively (P < .05). Percentages of muscle were higher and of fat were lower with increasing dose of formulated sometribove, but weight of only fat was significantly affected (P < .05). Clinical chemistry indices of metabolic effects of bST (e.g., circulating bST, IGF-I, insulin, glucose, and urinary nitrogen concentrations) were affected in directions similar to those observed with bST administered by daily injection. The results of this study demonstrate the growth performance and carcass composition advantages of a formulation designed to deliver bST over a 2-wk period.

Performance, clinical chemistry, and carcass responses of finishing lambs to recombinant bovine somatotropin and bovine placental lactogen.

Bovine placental lactogen (PL) is a partial somatotropin agonist in the cow and decreases urea nitrogen, indicating increased nitrogen retention. In the present study, the somatogenic effects of bovine PL (bPL; 4 and 8 mg/d) were compared with those of bovine somatotropin (bST; 4 and 8 mg/d) in finishing lambs. Measures of comparison included growth performance, carcass composition, and growth-related clinical chemistry traits. Although feed efficiency during the first 3 wk of treatment with bPL was improved by 14% (P < .05), feed efficiency for the full 6-wk treatment period did not differ from that of control lambs. Responsiveness to bPL may have been attenuated by high titer antibodies present after 2 wk of treatment. However, bPL also did not influence growth-related clinical chemistry traits during short-term (7 d) treatment, strongly suggesting that bPL was ineffective in finishing lambs at the doses tested. In contrast, bST improved 6-wk feed efficiency by an average of 17% (P < .05) and decreased feed intake by an average of 12% (P < .05). In addition, measures of carcass composition including longissimus muscle area, specific gravity of the rack, kidney and pelvic fat, and fat thickness demonstrated that bST, but not bPL, treatment decreased carcass fatness and increased carcass leanness. Treatment with bST, but not with bPL, affected IGF-I, insulin, glucose, and urea nitrogen in a dose-related manner. Thus, daily injections of bPL did not affect either performance or carcass quality, whereas performance and carcass responses of finishing lambs to bST were consistent with those reported by others.

Performance, carcass composition, and blood hormones and metabolites of finishing pigs treated with porcine somatotropin in hot and cold environments.

Two experiments were conducted to assess the ability for recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST)-treated pigs to perform and cope with the demands of hot and cold environments. In the first experiment, finishing pigs were exposed to either a thermoneutral (TN; 18 to 21 degrees C) or a hot environment (H; 27 to 35 degrees C) for 35 d. In the second experiment, pigs were exposed to a TN or cold environment (C; 5 to 15 degrees C). The rpST delivered by a 6-wk prolonged-release system had no effect on ADG, whereas both H and C reduced ADG by 29.4 and 11.8%, respectively. In the first experiment, rpST-treated pigs consumed 17.6% less feed than control pigs, whereas rpST-treated pigs in H consumed 24.4% less feed than rpST-treated pigs in TN. Overall feed/gain ratios through the first 4 wk of both studies were improved by 21.8 and 14%, respectively, by rpST (P < .05) and were 24.3% poorer in C (P < .05) than in H. The changes in blood concentrations of pST, IGF-I, and IGF-II associated with rpST were not influenced by the different environments. Total body composition of rpST-treated pigs had increased amounts of protein (P < .05) and decreased amounts of fat (P < .05); H further reduced fat (P < .05). The C resulted in reduced protein content (P < .05). No evidence of thermal imbalance due to rpST was found as assessed by rectal temperature, respiration rate, and heat production estimated by indirect calorimetry and chemical analysis.

Comparison of performance, clinical chemistry, and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs treated with recombinant ovine or bovine somatotropins.

The variation in growth and carcass composition responses of lambs to somatotropin (ST) treatment may depend on the source of ST used as well as on other experimental conditions. In the present experiment, growth, carcass composition, and clinical chemistry responses to recombinantly produced ovine ST (oST) and two bovine ST (N-methionyl-bST[M-bST] and N-alanyl-bST[A-bST] were compared. Lambs weighing 42 kg were assigned to treatment groups of control (no injection) or 4 mg/d of M-bST, A-bST, or oST administered by s.c. injection for 6 wk. Growth rate was increased by an average of 30% and feed efficiency was improved by an average of 22% by ST treatment compared with control, and responses did not differ among ST. The IGF-I, insulin, and glucose concentrations were increased by 107, 700, and 53% compared with control, respectively, and did not differ among ST treatment groups. Urea nitrogen responses to A-bST and oST were transiently greater than those to M-bST. Although quality grade was not affected by treatment, an average .8-kg increase in weight of retail cuts was calculated from yield grade. Carcasses of ST-treated lambs were calculated to have 1.3 kg more muscle and 1.9 kg less fat. Although fat and muscle were affected more by oST than by M-bST on a percentage basis, they did not differ among treatment groups on a total weight basis. Thus, both bST variants and oST improved growth performance and carcass leanness. Decreased responses of some carcass variables to M-bST treatment may have been related to the presence of antibodies that were indicated by an increased number of positive responders in a relative bST binding assay.

Effect of a hot environment on performance, carcass characteristics, and blood hormones and metabolites of pigs treated with porcine somatotropin.

A study was conducted to compare the effects of a single 100-mg recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) implant on performance, carcass characteristics, and blood hormones and metabolites of 40 finishing pigs exposed to either a thermoneutral (TN; 18 to 21 degrees C) or hot environment (H; 27 to 35 degrees C) for 28 or 35 d. Pigs in H gained at a slower rate (P less than .01) than pigs in TN. Control and rpST-treated pigs gained at similar rates in respective environments. The rpST-treated pigs consumed 13% less feed (P less than .01) than the control pigs in both environments, and pigs in H consumed 19% less feed (P less than .01) than pigs in TN. Feed efficiency for rpST-treated pigs was 15% better (P less than .01) than that for control pigs; environment had no effect on feed efficiency. When slaughtered, pigs treated with rpST had less (P less than .01) leaf fat and less (P less than .01) 10th rib backfat than control pigs. Pigs in H had a lower (P less than .01) final BW and less leaf fat and backfat than pigs in TN. The rpST and H had various effects on blood hormones and metabolites. The results demonstrated that the benefits of this form of rpST treatment achieved under TN were also achieved in H with no interactions between the hormone and environment.

The performance and carcass composition responses of finishing swine to a range of porcine somatotropin doses in a 1-week delivery system.

Four experiments using 580 barrows and 580 gilts (Study 1) and seven experiments using 500 barrows and 500 gilts (Study 2) were conducted at various geographical locations in the United States to determine the dose response of a pelleted form of porcine somatotropin (pST) relative to ADG, feed/gain (F/G), and percentage of carcass protein. Average initial weights for Studies 1 and 2 were 67.6 and 72.6 kg, respectively, and four pigs/pen were slaughtered when they achieved weights of 106.5 to 111.0 kg. In Study 1, pigs were implanted subcutaneously with pelleted pST doses of 0, 12, 24, 36, or 48 mg/wk and self-fed a corn-soybean meal diet containing 13.75% CP. Study 2 included two control groups self-fed a diet containing either 13.75 or 17% CP with added lysine. The pST-treated pigs were administered 12, 24, or 36 mg/wk, and all were offered the 17% CP diet. The pST treatments in Study 1 resulted in a linear reduction (P less than .05) in average daily feed intake (ADFI) and a quadratic (P less than .05) improvement in F/G and percentage of carcass protein. The pST treatments in Study 2 resulted in a linear reduction in ADFI (P less than .05), a linear improvement in F/G, and a quadratic increase in the percentage of carcass protein (P less than .05). Average daily gain was not affected in either study with this form of pST. The greatest increase in efficiency of lean gain was observed with the 36-mg dose for both Study 1 (9.4%) and Study 2 (10.8%). In Study 1, the force required to shear cores of the longissimus muscle was increased linearly with pST treatment (P less than .05). There was a similar linear increase in Study 2 with pST treatment (P less than .05); however, there was also an effect of sex (P less than .05) on shear force (gilts greater than barrows) that was similar in magnitude to that observed for pST treatment. Differences in sensory evaluation because of pST were minor and of the same magnitude as those observed between barrows and gilts. It was therefore concluded that weekly administration of pST improved F/G and percentage of carcass protein with no detrimental effects on palatability of cooked lean pork.

Composition of pork carcasses by potassium-40 liquid scintillation detection: estimation and validation.

Liquid scintillation detection of potassium-40 was used to estimate pork carcass composition of 124 boars, barrows and gilts. Pigs were fed to five live weights (23, 45, 68, 91 and 114 kg) and 40K emissions were determined on live pigs in a whole body counter (WBC) equipped with a two-pi liquid scintillation detector. Then, pigs were slaughtered conventionally and the right side of each carcass was weighed, 40K emissions of this carcass side was determined in the WBC and total grams of potassium were calculated. The right side of each carcass was ground, sampled and analyzed for fat, protein, moisture and potassium. Fat, protein, moisture and overall potassium percentage means were 23.9 +/- 7.2, 16.5 +/- .94, 57.0 +/- 6.5 and .25 +/- .02, respectively. Whole body counter carcass potassium was highly correlated (P less than .01) to chemically determined carcass potassium (r = .70). Percentage of fat, protein and moisture prediction equations were formed by stepwise regression using the linear, quadratic and interactive effects of live animal and carcass side weight. Whole body counter live animal and carcass potassium and sex were utilized as independent variables. Carcass weight and 40K determined potassium of the carcass explained more of the variation in carcass composition than did live animal weight and 40K determined potassium of the live animal.

Comparison of market hog characteristics of pigs selected by feeder pig frame size or current USDA feeder pig grade standards.

Two feeder pig grading systems were tested. Forty-five barrows were selected using current USDA Feeder Pig Grade Standards (U.S. No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3). Additionally, 45 barrows were selected using three frame sizes (large, medium and small). Pigs were slaughtered at 100, 113.5 of 127 kg live weight. Trimmed four lean cuts were separated into soft tissue, skin and bone. The skinless belly and soft tissue from the four lean cuts were ground separately and analyzed chemically. Data from each grading system were analyzed separately in a 3 X 3 factorial plan. Pigs selected using current USDA grade standards differed (P less than .05) for last rib backfat, 10th rib fat depth, longissimus muscle area, percentage of trimmed four lean cuts and USDA carcass grade. In the frame size system, pigs with large frame size had less last rib backfat, less 10th rib fat depth, longer carcasses, higher percentage of four lean cuts and superior USDA carcass grades than pigs with small frame size did (P less than .05). The Bradley and Schumann test of sensitivity showed that selection by frame size was more sensitive than current USDA grade standards for discriminating feeder pig foreleg length, body depth and ham width. In addition, selection by frame size was more sensitive than current USDA grade standards for discriminating carcass length and carcass radius length. No increase in sensitivity (P greater than .10) was noted for carcass composition or growth traits over the current USDA Feeder Pig Grade Standards.

Measurement of conchal atrophy and pneumonic lesions and their association with growth rate in commingled feeder pigs.

A group of 85 commingled feeder pigs was fed on a totally confined feeding floor until slaughter. Mean daily weight gain was calculated for each pig. At slaughter, the nose of each pig was cross-sectioned and scored for conchal atrophy by use of 2 methods. One method ascribed a score based on a linear measurement of the distance between the ventral scroll of the ventral conchae and the ventral floor of the nasal cavity. The other method ascribed a score based on a subjective evaluation of the degree of conchal degeneration according to previously published guidelines. The amount of pulmonary consolidation attributable to pneumonia was also estimated for each pig. Association was not found between growth rate and conchal atrophy, as determined by linear measurement scores. A negative correlation existed between growth rate and conchal atrophy, as determined by subjective evaluation scores. Pigs with extensive pneumonic lesions (consolidation of 20 to 30% of total lung volume) grew slower than pigs with milder pneumonic lesions. Results of this study indicate that subjective evaluation scores of conchal atrophy may be more useful in predicting growth rate than are linear measurement scores.

Effect of fasting and transportation on various physiological parameters and meat quality of slaughter hogs.

Forty-nine slaughter hogs were transported and fasted or fasted with no transport for 0 (no transport), 24, 48 and 72 h. Blood samples were taken before treatments were imposed and again prior to slaughter. Soft tissues of the ham were chemically analyzed and loin samples were evaluated by a sensory panel. Fasting and transportation decreased plasma triiodothyronine and hematocrit and increased plasma osmolality. Preslaughter treatment did not affect juiciness or desirability of cooked chops or percentage of fat in the ham soft tissues. These data suggest that although fasting and transporting of slaughter hogs may disrupt homeostasis of pigs, such physiological changes do not negatively affect meat quality.

Performance, body composition and carcass characteristics of finishing steers as influenced by previous forage systems.

To evaluate effects of previous forage systems on feedlot performance, yearling Hereford steers (average initial weight of 249 kg) were grazed on tall fescue (TF), smooth bromegrass-red clover (BG-RC) or orchardgrass-red clover (OG-RC) pastures before finishing. Serial slaughter was utilized during the first 2 yr of this study to determine changes in carcass characteristics throughout finishing, while steers were slaughtered at approximately 29% body fat during the third year. Steers grazing TF entered the feedlot at lighter weights and maintained lighter weights throughout finishing (P less than .05) even though dry matter intakes and feed conversions were similar (P greater than .05) among treatments. Steers that previously grazed TF had less (P less than .05) body fat, body protein, fat thickness and marbling, smaller (P less than .05) ribeye areas and lower (P less than .05) USDA yield and quality grades than than those that grazed BG-RC and OG-RC. However, linear contrasts indicated that steers grazing TF were compensating in ribeye area, marbling and quality grade as days in feedlot increased. This was confirmed in the third-year study, since carcass characteristics were similar among all steers. During the third year, linear and quadratic contrasts indicated that steers that grazed TF partially compensated in body protein. As days in feedlot increased, live and hot carcass weights, body fat, fat thickness, kidney, pelvic and heart fat, marbling, and USDA yield and quality grades increased (P less than .05), while ribeye area and body protein plateaued. Although carcass characteristics were similar among treatments, steers backgrounded on TF entered the feedlot at lighter weights, and partially compensated in weight after 134 d of finishing.