title: Supplemental β-carotene I: effect on plasma vitamin A, growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle.
abstract: To evaluate the effects of β-carotene (βC) on performance and carcass characteristics, 112 crossbred calves were allotted to 4 treatments consisting of retinyl palmitate (RP) supplemented at 2200IU/kg, and synthetic β-carotene supplemented at 1 (SβC1X), 5 (SβC5X), or 10 (SβC10X) times RP. Compared to RP, SβC1X did not impact performance (P≥0.25) or plasma concentrations of retinoids or carotenoids (P≥0.26). Increasing dietary βC increased (P≤0.04) plasma concentrations of RP and all of the isomers of βC, but did not affect weight, gain, or gain:feed (P≥0.24). Marbling and fat thickness did not differ between RP and SβC1X or because of amount of βC (P≥0.35). Lightness (L*) of LM decreased with increasing concentration of SβC (linear; P=0.01). Yellowness (b*) increased (P=0.04) and redness (a*) tended to increase (P=0.09) in subcutaneous fat as SβC amount increased (quadratic).
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Condron
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lemenager
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Claeys
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Purdue University, United States.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Lipkie
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States. Electronic address: jschoonm@purdue.edu.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schoonmaker
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A
keywords: Beef; Marbling; Performance; Vitamin A; β-carotene