title: Technical note: feeding zilpaterol hydrochloride to calf-fed Holstein steers improves muscle conformation of top loin steaks.
abstract: The objective of this research was to evaluate changes in the muscle conformation of subprimal top-loins (M. longissimus lumborum) from calf-fed Holstein steers fed zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH). Top-loins (n = 100) were transversely cut into 2.54 cm-thick steaks, weighed, and objectively evaluated via image analysis software for muscle area, width, and length traits. Top-loin steaks from steers fed ZH were heavier (P< 0.01; 367 vs. 337 g) and average muscle area per steak was greater (P < 0.05; 80.9 vs. 77.2 cm(2)) as compared to steaks from control steers. Muscle width (medial-lateral) was not different (P = 0.23) between control steers and those fed ZH. However, steaks from steers fed ZH had greater (P < 0.05) depth (dorsal-ventral) than steaks from control steers throughout the top-loin. The increased muscle depth of top-loins from calf-fed Holstein steers fed ZH may improve the center-of-the-plate salability of a cut that has traditionally suffered from poor muscling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, West Texas A & M University, Canyon, TX 79016, USA. tlawrence@wtamu.edu
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Delmore
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Beckett
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Streeter
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hutcheson
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects*; D014297:Trimethylsilyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014297:Trimethylsilyl Compounds; C475840:Zilpaterol