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The investigation of different levels of vitamin A and its effects on animal performance, carcass traits, and the conversion rate of external fat color in cull-cows.

Parkinson, Jake T
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1607070557160641

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Animal Sciences.
Cull cows represent a significant percentage of the revenue received from the U.S. beef industry, however, cull cows are often heavily price discounted at time of slaughter due to decreased body condition scores, carcass yield and quality and increased yellow fat color as a result of a prolonged high vitamin A diet. This study’s objective is to evaluate different feeding strategies and their effects on body condition score, external fat color, carcass yield and quality traits in cull cows. The central hypothesis is feeding a high energy diet, with low levels of Vitamin A, for 56 days will improve animal performance, carcass yield and quality traits in addition to capturing the point (rate) of the conversion of yellow to white external fat. In the present study 86 Angus crossbreed cows, culled from two Ohio State University farms were utilized. Cows were fed either low vitamin A diet (LVA) consisting of whole shelled corn, soybean hulls, soybean meal and a mineral-vitamin supplement or a high vitamin A diet (HVA) diet, formulated using whole shelled corn, fescue hay, DDGS and a mineral-vitamin supplement for 56 days. During the 56 day feeding period, weights, body condition scores, and subcutaneous adipose samples were collected every 14 days. On days 56, cattle were slaughtered; 48 hours postmortem carcass characteristics and objective color scores were recorded and a sample of the longissimus dorsi lumborum was collected. Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were utilized to record subjective color scores and then ground to be analyzed via HPLC for beta-carotene concentration. The longissimus dorsi lumborum samples were sliced into 2.54cm steaks, one of which was utilized to perform WBSF testing, the other was ground and utilized for pH testing. After results were gathered, data was analyzed via a proc mixed model of SAS. Feeding cull cows a low vitamin A diet resulted in significant differences in external carcass fat color (P = 0.01) as well as objective b* values (P < 0.01) on day 56. Subjective fat color scores were not significantly different on days 0 or 14, but were significantly different on days 28 (P < 0.05), 42 (P < 0.05) and 56 (P < 0.01). Additionally, 9-cis-beta-carotene concentrations (P = 0.05) on day 56 were significantly different between treatments. A trend was noticed for all-trans-beta-carotene concentration (P = 0.10) on day 56 as well. Cull cow weights were significantly higher when fed the low vitamin A diet starting on day 14 (P < 0.01), 28 (p = 0.01), and 42 (P = 0.04) and a trend was noticed on day 56 (P = 0.09) Overall, cows fed the LVA treatment for 56 days exhibited decreased adipose yellowness and beta-carotene concentrations as well as increased live weights. However, increased time on feed in addition to alternative feed formulations may be needed to see an increase in the overall value of cull cows. Additional research should also be conducted taking into effect time of year as well as breed type.
Lyda Garcia, Dr. (Advisor)
Stephen Boyles, Dr. (Committee Member)
Alejandro Relling, Dr. (Committee Member)
Kopec Rachel, Dr. (Committee Member)
72 p.
Agriculture; Animal Sciences; Animals; Food Science; Livestock
cull-cow; cow; cattle; beef; meat science; nutrition; beta-carotene; vitamin A; provitamin A; carotenoids; fat; adipose;

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Citations

  • Parkinson, J. T. (2020). The investigation of different levels of vitamin A and its effects on animal performance, carcass traits, and the conversion rate of external fat color in cull-cows. [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1607070557160641

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Parkinson, Jake. The investigation of different levels of vitamin A and its effects on animal performance, carcass traits, and the conversion rate of external fat color in cull-cows. 2020. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1607070557160641.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Parkinson, Jake. "The investigation of different levels of vitamin A and its effects on animal performance, carcass traits, and the conversion rate of external fat color in cull-cows." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1607070557160641

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1607070557160641
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