Effects of Dietary Guanidinoacetic Acid on the Feed Efficiency, Blood Measures, and Meat Quality of Jinjiang Bulls

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing the diet of Jinjiang bulls with guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on their feed efficiency [feed efficiency were evaluated with feedlot average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed-to-gain ratio (F:G)], blood measures, and meat quality. Forty-five Jinjiang bulls (24 ± 3 months old and 350.15 ± 30.39 kg by weight) were randomly distributed among five experimental groups (each n = 9) and each group was randomly fed with one of five diets (concentrate: roughage ratio of 60:40): (1) control; (2) 0.05% GAA; (3) 0.1% GAA; (4) 0.2% GAA; and (5) 0.4% GAA, respectively. After a 52-days feeding trial, five bulls from the control group and five bulls from the optimal GAA supplementing group were randomly selected and slaughtered for collection of the longissimus thoracis (LT) and semitendinosus (SM) muscles to determine meat quality. The results showed that dietary GAA improved the ADG, decreased the value of F:G, and affected blood measures and antioxidant variables. Supplementing 0.2% GAA into the diet was optimal for feeding efficiency and most of the measured blood measures. Supplementing 0.2% GAA into the diet increased the a* (redness) values, and b* (yellowness) values, and the amount of creatine kinase (CK), muscle glycogen, creatinine (CRE), and laminin (LN) in LT muscles. However, it decreased the drip loss, L* (lightness) value, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content of LT muscles. Drip loss and shear force decreased in SM muscles, as did the amount of type IV collagen (CV–IV). In conclusion, supplementing 0.2% GAA into the diet could enhance feed efficiency to improve beef growth and meat quality.

Effect of guanidine acetic acid on meat quality, muscle amino acids, and fatty acids in Tibetan pigs

“…Supplementation of GAA in Tibetan pigs beneficially increased the SOD activity and decreased the MDA content in LT, suggesting that GAA enhanced the antioxidant capacity of LT. These findings are consistent with those presented by Li et al (30), who reported an increase in serum SOD, glutathione, and glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio in the GAA group compared to the control group. GAA supplementation in pig diets significantly reduced the muscle MDA content and increased the GSH-Px and SOD activities (31).…”

Guanidine acetic acid exhibited greater growth performance in younger (13–30 kg) than in older (30–50 kg) lambs under high-concentrate feedlotting pattern

“…This was consistent with previously reported about Jinjiang bulls and Angus bulls. Li et al ( 26 ) and Li et al ( 27 ) found that the DMI of Jinjiang bulls and Angus bulls increased with GAA addition. However, the findings of the present study contrasted with the results of a previous study with uncoated GAA at Xinjiang Agricultural University of China ( 28 ), in which adding GAA without rumen protection treatment in TMR significantly decreased the DMI of lambs but the ADG and F: G were similar.…”

“…In previous studies, uncoated GAA was applied as feed additive, and it was found as an improvement of growth performance and feed efficiency in pigs, broiler chickens, and bulls ( 24 – 26 ). However, there was little information available concerning the forage type and GAA addition on Han lamb performance.…”

Effects of guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation in Holstein dairy cows

“…The DMI was unchanged with GAA addition, and was in agreement with the findings reported in bulls. 9,24 Likewise, Speer reported that the DMI was not affected with a ruminal infusion of 10 or 20 g day −1 GAA in steers. 10 However, Li et al 8 observed that the DMI of bulls linearly increased when supplementing the same level of GAA as that in the present study.…”