Tasco-Forage: IV. Influence of a seaweed extract applied to tall fescue pastures on sensory characteristics, shelf-life, and vitamin E status in feedlot-finished steers.
Tasco-Forage is an Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed-based product that has increased antioxidant activity in both plants and animals. Endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum ([Morgan-Jones and Gams] Glenn, Bacon, and Hanlin)-infected and uninfected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) pastures in Virginia and Mississippi during 1997 were treated or not with 3.4 kg Tasco/ha in April and July. There were two replications of each treatment at each location. Forty-eight steers (6/replication) grazed pastures at each location (n = 96) from April to October prior to transportation to Texas Tech, Lubbock, for finishing during a 160-d period in the feedlot. Blood (antemortem) and liver (postmortem) samples were collected. After slaughter and chilling, the left strip loins (IMPS #180) were collected from three randomly selected steers from within each pasture replication (n = 48). Strip loins were vacuum-packaged and stored at 2 degrees C. At postmortem d 7, 14, 21, and 28, strip loins were removed from packaging and fabricated into 2.54-cm steaks. Following each fabrication day postmortem, the strip loins were repackaged and stored at 2 degrees C until the following postmortem time. After the prescribed fabrication, steaks were overwrapped with polyvinyl chloride film, subjected to simulated retail display at 2 degrees C for up to 3 d, and subjective and objective color were evaluated daily by a trained panel. Steaks from Mississippi steers that had grazed Tasco-treated fescue retained higher (P < 0.05) CIE a* color scores throughout retail display. Steaks were more uniform and had less discoloration and less browning (P < 0.05) if they were from steers that had grazed Tasco-treated fescue, and the effect was greatest for steers from Mississippi (location x Tasco interaction; P < 0.05). The endophyte in tall fescue may decrease uniformity and increase lean discoloration and two-toning of beef steaks when removed from vacuum packaging on or beyond d 21 postmortem (endophyte x Tasco x postmortem day interaction: P < 0.05). Vitamin E in liver was increased (P < 0.06) and serum vitamin E was decreased (P < 0.09) in steers that had grazed the treated pastures. These experiments indicated that Tasco applied to tall fescue during the grazing season can improve color stability and extend beef shelf-life, particularly in cattle grazing infected tall fescue. The mode of action of Tasco is not clear, but antioxidants and specific vitamins may be involved.
Montgomery
J L
JL
Department of Animal Science and Food Technology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409, USA.
Allen
V G
VG
Pond
K R
KR
Miller
M F
MF
Wester
D B
DB
Brown
C P
CP
Evans
R
R
Bagley
C P
CP
Ivy
R L
RL
Fontenot
J P
JP
D000375:Aging; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003116:Color; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006109:Poaceae; D012621:Seasons; D012624:Seaweed; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002784:Cholesterol