Value of sunflower seed in finishing diets of feedlot cattle12

Abstract

The value of sunflower seed (SS) in finishing diets was assessed in two feeding trials. In Exp. 1, 60 yearling steers (479 +/- 45 kg) were fed five diets (n = 12). A basal diet (DM basis) of 84.5% steam-rolled barley, 9% barley silage, and 6.5% supplement was fed as is (control), with all the silage replaced (DM basis) with rolled SS, or with grain:silage mix replaced with 9% whole SS, 14% whole SS, or 14% rolled SS. Liver, diaphragm, and brisket samples were obtained from each carcass. In Exp. 2, 120 yearling steers (354 +/- 25 kg) were fed corn- or barley-based diets containing no SS, high-linoleic acid SS, or high-oleic acid SS (a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, n = 20). Whole SS was included at 10.8% in the corn-based and 14% in the barley-based diets (DM basis). In Exp. 1, feeding whole SS linearly increased DMI (P = 0.02), ADG (P = 0.01), and G:F (P = 0.01). Regression of ME against level of whole SS indicated that SS contained 4.4 to 5.9 Mcal ME/kg. Substituting whole for rolled SS did not significantly alter DMI, ADG, or G:F (8.55 vs. 8.30 kg/d; 1.36 vs. 1.31 kg; and 0.157 vs. 0.158, respectively). Replacing the silage with rolled SS had no effect on DMI (P = 0.91) but marginally enhanced ADG (P = 0.10) and improved G:F (P = 0.01). Dressing percent increased linearly (P = 0.08) with level of SS in the diet. Feeding SS decreased (P < 0.05) levels of 16:0 and 18:3 in both diaphragm and subcutaneous fats, and increased (P = 0.05) the prevalence of 18:1, 18:2, cis-9,trans-11-CLA and trans-10,cis-12-CLA in subcutaneous fat. In Exp. 2, barley diets supplemented with high-linoleic SS decreased DMI (P = 0.02) and ADG (P = 0.007) by steers throughout the trial, whereas no decrease was noted with corn (interaction P = 0.06 for DMI and P = 0.01 for ADG). With barley, high-linoleic SS decreased final live weight (554 vs. 592 kg; P = 0.01), carcass weight (329 vs. 346 kg; P = 0.06), and dressing percent (58.5 vs. 59.4%; P = 0.04). Steers fed high-linoleic SS plus barley had less (P < 0.05) backfat than those fed other SS diets. No adverse effects of SS on liver abscess incidence or meat quality were detected. Although they provide protein and fiber useful in formulating finishing diets for cattle, and did improve performance in Exp. 1, no benefit from substituting SS for grain and roughage was detected in Exp. 2. Because of unexplained inconsistencies between the two experiments, additional research is warranted to confirm the feeding value of SS in diets for feedlot cattle.

Animal performance and meat characteristics in steers reared in intensive conditions fed with different vegetable oils

“…The panel of tasters noted no differences in the hardness (P >0.05) of the meat (Table 6), although steers fed with soybean oil had a lower total area value (Table 4), which is associated with more tender meat. Gibb et al (2004) observed no significant difference in toughness values between animals supplemented with sunflower seed rich in oleic and linoleic acid. McNiven et al (2011), in agreement with the current study, observed no differences in the sensory characteristics of the meat of steers supplemented with vegetable oils rich in unsaturated FAs (rapeseed, soy or linseed).…”

“…There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the parameters studied in the sensory analysis: odour, texture, flavour and overall acceptability of the meat. Gibb et al (2004) detected no significant difference in the odour of meat from diets supplemented with sunflower oil. However, some authors suggest that the FA composition of the diet can alter the type of volatile compounds produced by meat and thus modify its aroma (Elmore et al, 2004).…”

Inclusion of sunflower seed and wheat dried distillers’ grains with solubles in a red clover silage-based diet enhances steers performance, meat quality and fatty acid profiles

“…Barley grain as opposed to SS (Gibb et al, 2004), and RCS as opposed to DDGS (Glasser et al, 2013) have relatively higher concentrations of 18:3n-3. On the whole, the proportions of total and individual n-3 PUFA were greatest in steers fed the control diet, followed by steers fed the SS diet and steers fed the DDGS-15 and DDGS-30 diets had the lowest proportions (P < 0.05; Table 4).…”

Meat characteristics of Nellore steers fed whole cottonseed

“…Oilseeds and oils are added to beef cattle diet to increase the content of beneficial fatty acids in the meat to provide healthier meat to consumers; one example is conjugated linoleic acid (Mir et al, 2003;Sackmann et al, 2003;Gibb et al, 2004). Mir et al (2008) observed that sunflower oil supplementation in diets for steers increased the content of conjugated linoleic acid and trans isomers in meat.…”