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

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2001-04, Vol.79 (4), p.884-894
• Main Authors: Montgomery, J. L, Allen, V. G, Pond, K. R, Miller, M. F, Wester, D. B, Brown, C. P, Evans, R, Bagley, C. P, Ivy, R. L, Fontenot, J. P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal Feed; Animal productions; Animals; Antioxidants; Beef; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle; Cattle - growth & development; Cattle - physiology; Cholesterol - blood; Color; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; Flowers & plants; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Infections; Marine; Meat; Meat - standards; Meat and meat product industries; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Poaceae; Seasons; Seaweed; Tending. Growth control; Terrestrial animal productions; Tillage. Tending. Growth control; Vertebrates; Vitamin A - blood; Vitamin E; Vitamin E - blood; Vitamin E - physiology
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163; 0021-8812
• DOI: 10.2527/2001.794884x

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.