Vitamin E Supplementation of Cattle and Shelf-Life of Beef for the Japanese Market

S. K. Sanders, J. B. Morgan, D. M. Wulf, J. D. Tatum, S. N. Williams, G. C. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Feeder steers (n = 84) were stratified into four weight groups to provide slaughter groups so that product that had been in vacuum packages at 0 to 2°C for 40, 60, 80, or 100 d postmortem could be simultaneously evaluated. Each of the four groups was randomly divided into three subgroups so that vitamin E could be supplemented in the diet at rates of 0, 1,000, or 2,000 (E0, E1000, and E2000, respectively) IU·steer-1·d-1 for 100 d. After slaughtering, chilling, and fabricating, one ribeye-roll and one strip loin from each carcass was transported to the university laboratory for analyses, whereas the paired subprimals were transported to Japan. Based on metmyoglobin formation and lipid oxidation, strip loin steaks deteriorated at a faster rate during retail-display than did ribeye steaks. Steaks from subprimals that were stored for 100 d had inferior (P < .05) retail-display characteristics and a shorter (P < .05) caselife than steaks from the other storage periods. α-Tocopherol levels in longissimus muscle were lower (P < .05) for E0 than for E1000 and E2000 (3.51, 5.54, and 6.10 μg/g of tissue, respectively). Supplementing cattle with vitamin E resulted in steaks that exhibited superior lean color, less surface discoloration, more desirable overall appearance, and less lipid oxidation during retaildisplay than control steaks; minimal differences were observed between E1000 and E2000 steaks. Steaks from cattle supplemented with vitamin E were preferred over control steaks by 91% of Japanese survey participants (n = 10,941), and 58% of all participants identified muscle color as the most important factor in selecting beef products.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2634-2640
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of animal science
Volume75
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1997
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Beef
  • Color
  • Exports
  • Keeping Quality
  • Vitamin E

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Food Science
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Genetics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Vitamin E Supplementation of Cattle and Shelf-Life of Beef for the Japanese Market'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this