Impact of Feeding Palm Oil to Finishing Cattle on Performance, Carcass, and Meat Characteristics

Authors

Tate S. Johnson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Rebecca L. McDermott, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Josh R. Benton, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jessie C. Morrill, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jim C. MacDonald, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2026

Citation

2026 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pages 41-43, MP-121, University of Nebraska Extension, 2026

Comments

Copyright 2026, Board of Regents, University of Nebraska. Used by permission

Abstract

Summary with Implications

This finishing study evaluated the effect of feeding palm oil products on performance and carcass characteristics, and beef quality measures. Dietary treatments included no supplemental fat or feeding: crude palm oil, crude high-oleic palm oil (HOPO), refined, bleached, and de-odorized palm olein oil (RBD olein), or tallow. Supplemental fat was included at 3.5% of diet dry matter. Cattle fed diets containing supplemental fat had improved feed conversion compared to no supplemental fat. Feeding cattle crude palm oil resulted in improved F:G compared to cattle fed RBD olein, with steers fed tallow and crude HOPO being intermediate and not being different from crude palm or RBD olein. There were no differences in carcass characteristics. Feeding palm oil products could offer cost-effective alternatives to traditional fat supplementation.