Zilpaterol hydrochloride improves beef yield, changes palatability traits, and increases calpain-calpastatin gene expression in Nellore heifers

Author(s)

Brandao Consolo, Nara Regina ; Ferrari, Viviane Borba ; Mesquita, Ligia Garcia ; Goulart, Rodrigo Silva ; Prada e Silva, Luis Felipe

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MEAT SCIENCE; v. 121, p. 375-381, NOV 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of the beta-agonist zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) on carcass traits, subprimal yield, meat quality, palatability traits, and gene expression in Nellore heifers. Zilpaterol increased Longissimus lumborum area and did not change back fat thickness, meat color, and cooking loss. Heifers fed ZH had greater hindquarter weight and carcass percentage. Muscles from hindquarter were heavier for animals fed ZH. Forequarter (% of carcass) decreased and brisket did not change with ZH supplementation. There were no differences between treatments for steak aroma, beef flavor, and off-flavor. However, tenderness and juiciness were reduced by ZH, depending on postmortem aging. Zilpaterol increased Calpain-1, Calpain-2, and calpastatin mRNA expression, with no effect of day of slaughter or ZH x Day interaction. In conclusion, ZH supplementation improved hypertrophy, meat production, and debone yield in Nellore heifers, which led to decreased tenderness and to increased mRNA expression in the calpain-calpastatin system. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/01320-7 - Metabolomic characterization of blood and meat from young Nellore bulls, progeny of bulls with different EPDs for growth, precocity and muscularity
• Grantee: Nara Regina Brandão Cônsolo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral