We entered some steers in a hoof and hook competition which we did well on the hoof but missed on the hook. Largely because our meat colour was to light, scoring 0 out of 10 from a total of 54 points which pretty much eliminates them. Dark meat colour scores 5 out of 10. All six of our steers had light meat colour and about half of all steers entered. Am wondering if the is something feed related we could change to affect this. They where pretty much grass finished with only a small amount of grain. Saw on the Tyson thread that more of your show cattle are dark cutters, what other things effect meat colour.
Meat colour
- Thread starter huntaway
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ROMAX
Well-known member
More grain!
firesweepranch
Well-known member
Not to try to side track this.... but....
Why do you show them with nose clips?
Why do you show them with nose clips?
Did some research on this out of curiosity. Looks like Vit. E can be fed to increase myoglobin which in turn makes the nice cherry red color. Possibly a vit. E deficiency? Most info I found was on problems with darker cuts caused by long periods of stress and high levels of adrenalin pre slaughter. Maybe all the steers were just really "chill" lol O0
Here are some interesting links that talk about meat evaluation and color. Never hears any of us to review what our business is really about
http://safespectrum.com/pdfs/meatcolor.pdf
http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2522.pdf
Here are some interesting links that talk about meat evaluation and color. Never hears any of us to review what our business is really about
http://safespectrum.com/pdfs/meatcolor.pdf
http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2522.pdf
Its in the rules that they have to have nose clips, Think its probably because they are worried about how much work has been put into the steers and a large number of the competitors have done very little showing or even work with animals. The group I work with are at the start of an entry level ag certificate with very little experience with animals. They work the steers one morning a week for about 10weeks. We haven't had any issues but I feel better with the safety of a nose clip if something did.firesweepranch said:
Okotoks
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- Aug 17, 2010
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In Canada I believe Cargill still requires all animals going to their plants to have been fed vitamin E.
http://www.balancedbeef.com/extension_doc/vitamin_E.pdf
http://www.balancedbeef.com/extension_doc/vitamin_E.pdf
