title: Effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate on performance and carcass quality of feedlot steers.
abstract: Beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate (HMB), a compound formed during catabolism of leucine, was fed to 256 crossbred steers as 0 or .03% of diet dry matter. Effects on performance, carcass characteristics, and tissue composition were measured. Groups of 32 steers per diet were slaughtered after 105, 119, 133, and 147 d on feed. The HMB was fed to each group only during the final 82 d they were fed. Averaged across slaughter date, animal performance was not altered by HMB; however, an interaction between HMB and time on feed was detected. Feeding HMB increased (P < .01) daily gain of steers slaughtered at 105 d but decreased (P < .01) daily gain of steers slaughtered at 147 d. Steers fed HMB had numerically higher marbling scores that resulted in a trend toward higher carcass quality grades. Steers receiving HMB tended to have less (P < .08) s.c. fat and fewer steers with yield grades of 4 or greater (1.6 vs 4.7%). Supplementation of HMB to feedlot steers tended to increase (P < .07) the ratio of intramuscular fat to subcutaneous fat. Steers fed HMB had higher (P < .001) blood plasma concentrations of HMB (3.06 vs 1.70 mg/L) and lower (P < .03) blood plasma concentrations of cholesterol (108.4 vs 118.7 mg/dL). Feeding HMB tended to increase (P < .10) lipid content of the longissimus muscles of those steers slaughtered at 105 d.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078-0425.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Van Koevering
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Dolezal
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Strasia
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nissen
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D007651:Keto Acids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D014631:Valerates / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007651:Keto Acids; D014631:Valerates; C004961:beta-hydroxyisovaleric acid; C013082:alpha-ketoisocaproic acid; D002784:Cholesterol