Meat and fat quality traits of grazing steers supplemented with corn grain and increasing amounts of flaxseed

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of corn and flaxseed supplementation at finishing on longissimus thoracis color and shear-force and on subcutaneous fat color, forty-eight angus steers were assigned to four dietary treatments (DIET): no-supplement, supplemented with 0.7% live weight (LW) of cracked corn grain plus 0.0%, 0.125% and 0.25% LW of whole flaxseed in two finishing trials (Trial-1, early spring and Trial-2, late spring). None of the evaluated variables were affected by DIET in either trial, nor in a combined statistical analysis of the pooled data. The lack of DIET effect observed on muscle color and shear-force, are in agreement with the similar longissimus muscle pH@45 min, temp@45 min, pH@24 h, and glycogen content at slaughter observed between DIET. Lack of shear force difference between supplementation treatments is in agreement with their similar muscle sarcomere length, total and soluble collagen content and proportion of intact troponin-T. Subcutaneous fat color was also similar between supplementation treatments. Corn or flaxseed supplementation of steers grazing a high-quality pasture did not improve meat or subcutaneous fat color and meat shear force.