Effects of Shade and Feeding Zilpaterol Hydrochloride to Finishing Steers on Performance, Carcass Quality, Heat Stress, Mobility, and Body Temperature

June 2016

The following article is a summary of the 2016 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report “Effects of Shade and Feeding Zilpaterol Hydrochloride to Finishing Steers on Performance, Carcass Quality, Heat Stress, Mobility, and Body Temperature” (PDF) by Bradley M. Boyd, Steven D. Shackelford, Kristin E. Hales, Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Meredith L. Bremer, Matthew L. Spangler, Tommy L. Wheeler, David A. King, and Galen E. Erickson.

Zilpaterol hydrochloride, or Zilmax, is a beta-agonist approved to be fed to finishing cattle the last 21 days of the feeding period. There is a three-day withdrawal for this feed additive, so careful management is necessary for responsible use of this technology. Recently, some animal welfare concerns were associated with the feeding of Zilmax, so researchers wanted to determine if feeding Zilmax to finishing cattle impacted performance, carcass characteristics, mobility, body temperature, and response to heat stress when fed in the open or in shaded pens.

Respiration rates or the number of breaths per minute and panting scores were recorded for all cattle throughout the feeding period. Mobility scores were also recorded before any of the animals were fed Zilmax, after the Zilmax feeding period was concluded, when the steers were unloaded off the truck at the plant, and then finally just before entering the restrainer prior to harvest.

Performance Data

Cattle fed Zilmax had live weights that were 9 lbs. greater than the control cattle. Dry matter intakes, average daily gains, and feed efficiencies did not differ between the two treatment groups.

Carcass Characteristics

Dressing percentage (65.4% vs. 63.7%) and longissimus muscle areas (14.7 vs. 13.7 in) were significantly greater in the Zilmax-fed cattle compared to the control cattle. Yield grade scores were significantly lower in the Zilmax cattle (3.2) compared to the control cattle (3.5).

Non-performance Characteristics

Respiration rates (breaths/minute) were significantly higher in the Zilmax-fed cattle (100.8 vs. 92.3 breaths per minute) compared to the control group. Performance and carcass characteristics as well as respiration rates and panting scores did not differ between cattle housed in shaded or open pens.

Mobility Scores

There were no significant differences between Zilmax-fed cattle and control cattle for mobility scores. There was however, an effect of time on mobility scores reported. As cattle were fed longer, mobility scores went down. Cattle were also slower exiting the chute the longer they were on feed.

Body Temperatures

Average and maximal body temperatures were actually highest in control cattle regardless if they were housed in open or shaded lots.

Summary

The effect of shade had no significant effect on body temperature or performance for cattle fed Zilmax or in the control group. Zilmax-fed cattle had heavier carcasses, larger ribeyes, and decreased yield grades compared to the cattle not fed Zilmax. Zilmax-fed cattle did have increased respiration rates but no adverse effects on body temperature or mobility were reported. However, the mobility scores of cattle from all groups decreased the longer the cattle were on feed and after the animals were unloaded off of the truck at the harvest facility including the time period between unloading and reaching the restrainer prior to harvest.

Summarized by Meredith Bremer
Beef Systems Extension Educator