Supplementing calcium salts of soybean oil to beef steers early in life to enhance carcass development and quality1

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing Ca salts of soybean oil (CSSO) to beef steers at 2 mo of age via creep-feeding, and/or during a 40-d preconditioning period on performance and carcass development responses. A total of 64 steers were enrolled in this study over 2 yr (32 steers per year), with 4 periods each year: creep-feeding (CF; day 0 to 60), preweaning (day 61 to weaning on day 124 and 127 of year 1 and 2, respectively), preconditioning (PC; day 132 to 172 in year 1 and day 135 to 175 of year 2), and feedlot (feedlot arrival to slaughter, day 173 to 378 in year 1 and day 176 to 385 in year 2). On day 0 steers were ranked by body weight (BW) and age (114 ± 4 kg of BW; 66.1 ± 0.9 d of age) and allocated to 1 of 16 pens. Pens were randomly assigned to receive CSSO during CF (80 g/d per steer) and/or PC (150 g/d per steer) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. During CF and PC, nonsupplemented steers (CON) were provided an isolipidic prilled saturated fat supplement. Steer BW was recorded on day 0, 60, at weaning, and prior to feedlot shipping. Carcass traits were recorded upon slaughter. On day 0, 60, at weaning, prior to feedlot shipping, and during the feedlot period, blood samples were collected and longissimus muscle (LM) biopsies were collected. On day 60, steers that received CSSO during CF had greater (P < 0.01) plasma concentrations of linoleic and ω-6 compared with CON (CF treatment × day; P ≤ 0.05). Steers that received CSSO during PC had greater (P < 0.01) plasma concentrations of linoleic, ω-6, and total fatty acids compared with CON at feedlot shipping (PC treatment × day; P ≤ 0.05). A PC treatment × day interaction was also detected (P = 0.04) for mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), which was greater (P = 0.04) at feedlot shipping for steers receiving CSSO during PC. Interactions between CF treatment × day were detected (P ≤ 0.01) for mRNA expression of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein, fatty acid synthase, PPAR-γ, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase, which were greater (P ≤ 0.02) in the feedlot in steers receiving CSSO during CF. No treatment differences were detected for (P ≥ 0.18) performance or carcass traits, including marbling and backfat thickness. Results from this study suggest that supplementing CSSO to suckled beef steers via creep-feeding upregulated mRNA expression of the adipogenic genes investigated herein later in life. These outcomes, however, were not translated into improved carcass quality.

Effects of fatty acid profile of supplements on intake, performance, carcass traits, meat characteristics, and meat sensorial analysis of feedlot Bos indicus bulls offered a high-concentrate diet

“…Moreover, CSVO supplementation also reduced the mRNA expression of SCD vs. CONT cohorts. These results do not agree with Schubach et al (2019) in which effects were either positive or similar between CSSO- and SFA-supplemented cohorts. Additionally, the reason why the results herein were different is intriguing, given that in agreement to PPAR-γ effects on lipid metabolism, enhanced SREBP-1 expression indicates a greater capacity of de novo FA synthesis and lipid accumulation in muscle tissue ( Zhao et al, 2010 ).…”

“…In agreement with our results, Fiorentini et al (2014) also observed similar ADG, FE, and carcass characteristics of beef animals receiving a 60:40 roughage:concentrate diet containing calcium salts of soybean oil or whole soybeans. Moreover, Schubach et al (2019) also reported similar performance and carcass characteristics when different sources of calcium salts of fatty acids (palm- and soybean oil-based) were strategically supplied to cattle on creep-feeding (60 d) and/or preconditioning (40 d). Conversely, Nascimento (2017) reported greater HCW, BFT, and REA of B. indicus beef animals offered CSVO vs. CSSO during feedlot for a period of 140 d. Cooke et al (2011) also reported greater marbling in animals supplemented with a source of calcium salts of soybean oil for 28 d during preconditioning prior to transport to feedlot.…”

“…Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ has been a gene of interest when looking at lipid metabolism and its potential effects on meat characteristics, such as marbling ( Lim et al, 2011 ), whereas it has been reported that SFA vs. UFA are more potent inducers of PPAR-γ ( Bionaz et al, 2012 ). However, this may not be always true, as Schubach et al (2019) reported a greater expression of PPAR-γ mRNA in beef calves offered a PUFA-enriched supplement through creep-feeding from 2 to 4 mo of age. Additionally, PUFA supplementation to newly weaned beef calves until the animals are approximately 8 mo of age has consistently improved carcass marbling at slaughter ( Cooke et al, 2011 ; Mangrum et al, 2016 ), demonstrating that PUFA might cause metabolic imprinting effects through the upregulation of PPAR-γ and that the potential stimulatory effects of PUFA in this gene might depend on the age of the animal.…”

Using low-moisture molasses-based blocks to supplement Ca salts of soybean oil to forage-fed beef cows

“…As previously noted, LMB intake during the initial 14 d were beyond the expected and nearly double the supplement intake of CONC cows, explaining differences observed between these treatments in samples collected on day 14. The decrease in plasma α-linolenic acid and ɷ-3 polyunsaturated FA concentrations in CSSO-supplemented cattle has also been reported by our group in research with mature and growing beef cattle ( Cooke et al, 2011 ; Brandão et al, 2018 ; Schubach et al, 2019 ). On days 28 and 42, when CONC intake was adjusted to match LMB intake ( Table 3 ), plasma concentrations of palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, osbond acid, total saturated FA, total polyunsaturated FA, total ω-6 polyunsaturated FA, and total FA were greater in CONC and LMB vs. NOSUPP cows and did not differ ( P ≥ 0.35) between LMB and CONC cows.…”

Supplementing Ca salts of soybean oil to late-gestating beef cows: impacts on performance and physiological responses of the offspring

“…The mechanisms underlying the outcomes reported by Marques et al (2017) still warrant investigation, including the individual role of ɷ-3 and ɷ-6 FA. In recent studies with beef cattle, linoleic acid and its ɷ-6 derivatives were the specific FA linked with fetal cell differentiation and development ( Schubach et al, 2019 ). Hence, supplementing a FA source based on ɷ-6 such as Ca salts of soybean oil (CSSO), may be more advantageous to gestational programming compared with the ɷ-3 + ɷ-6 FA mix used by Marques et al (2017) , and also elucidate the specific programming roles of ɷ-6 FA.…”