A Greater dose of Ractopamine Hydrochloride Enhances Feedlot Performance and Impacts Carcass Characteristics of Calf-Fed Holstein Steers
- 1 Texas Tech University, United States
- 2 Fort Collins, United States
- 3 South Dakota State University, United States
Abstract
The objective was to evaluate the effects of supplementing ractopamine HCl at the rate of 400 mg steer1 daily in the final 28 d of the feeding period on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Holstein steers. Steers (n = 1,498; initial BW = 547 kg) were randomly assigned to pens (10 pens/treatment) and to a treatment: (1) 0 mg∙steer1∙d1 of RH (CON); (2) Ractopamine HCl fed at 400 mg∙steer1∙d1 of RH (RH) for evaluation over a 28 d period. Steers were fed a finishing diet based on steam-flaked corn and alfalfa hay. Dry matter intake decreased, Average Daily Gain (ADG) was increased and improved feed efficiency (P<0.05) was noted in RH steers. Steers supplemented with RH had heavier final Body Weight (BW) and HCW, greater Dressing Percentage (DP) and larger Longissimus Muscle (LM) area (P<0.05). Ractopamine HCl steers had improved yield grades, as evidenced by a greater percentage of yield grade 1 and a decreased percentage of yield grade 3 (P<0.05) carcasses. Steers supplemented RH had a decreased percentage of cattle grading USDA Choice and a greater percent grading USDA Select (P<0.05). These data indicate that 400 mg∙steer1 daily of ractopamine HCl fed to Holstein steers may improve feedlot phase growth performance, DP, HCW and LM area while having minimal impact on USDA quality grade distribution.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajavsp.2021.99.104
Copyright: © 2021 Jerilyn E. Hergenreder, Jonathon L. Beckett, Zachary K. Smith and Bradley J. Johnson. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Keywords
- Beta-Adrenergic Agonist
- Carcass Grade
- Feedlot Growth Performance
- Holstein Steer
- Ractopamine Hydrochloride