Evaluation of Calcium Propionate as a Nutrient to Prevent Dark Cutting Beef

Authors

Juan Garza, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dana Hanson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kevin Kirchofer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Chris R. Calkins, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Johnny Horton, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, Iowa

Date of this Version

January 2002

Comments

Published in 2002 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Copyright © 2001 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the ability of calcium propionate to prevent the dark cutting condition in beef. Angus crossbred steers (n=14) were assigned to two treatments: control and 0.25 lb of calcium propionate (NutroCAL^TM) per day for 14 days prior to (and 12 days after) the application of artificial stress with epinephrine at day 0. Biopsies of the longissimus muscle and blood samples were obtained at days –2, 0, 1, 3, 6 and 9. Calcium propionate had no effect on muscle glycogen content, extent of glycogen depletion, or glycogen repletion rates.