title: Growth, feed efficiency and carcass composition of finishing Friesian steers fed the beta-adrenergic agonist L-644,969.
abstract: The beta-adrenergic agonist L-644,969 was evaluated to determine its effects on growth performance and carcass composition of Friesian steers. L-644,969 is the R,R isomer of 6-amino [[(1-methyl-3-phenylpropyl) amino] methyl]-3-pyridine methanol dihydrochloride. Four groups of 18 steers, averaging 380 kg body weight, were individually given ad libitum access to a pelleted concentrate diet that contained either 0, .25, 1.0 or 4.0 ppm L-644,969 for the final 12 wk of the finishing period. Live weight gain was not affected by L-644,969, but feed consumption was linearly reduced (5.5, 6.3 and 15.7%; P less than .01) and feed conversion efficiency was linearly increased (16, 25 and 31%; P less than .01) relative to unmedicated controls, respectively. In addition, L-644,969 quadratically increased carcass weight (3.7, 9.3 and 8.5%; P less than .01) and dressing percentage (2.7, 7.9 and 7.9%; P less than .001). The proportion of trimmed fat in the carcass was quadratically reduced (14.5, 29 and 36%; P less than .001) and yield of lean meat quadratically increased (6.7, 13 and 15.6%; P less than .001). beta-adrenergic agonist treatment altered the distribution of lean meat such that a greater (P less than .001) proportion of the total lean was in the hind portion of carcasses from treated animals. Based on these findings, we suggest that L-644,969 may have utility as an agent to improve efficiency of production of lean beef.
authors.affiliation: Teagasc, Grange Research Center, Dunsany, Ireland.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Convey
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D011725:Pyridines; C061557:6-amino-alpha-(((1-methyl-3-phenylpropyl)amino)methyl)-3-pyridine methanol