Effects of ractopamine hydrochloride and zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation on longissimus muscle shear force and sensory attributes of beef steers

Effect of ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) and zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) on LM shear force and sensory attributes was determined using pens (n = 40) British × Continental crossbred steers randomly allocated to one of the following treatments: control; RH fed at 200 (RH 200) or 300 mg · steer-1 · d-1 (RH 300), or 400 mg · steer-1 · d-1 (RH 400) topdressed for the final 30 d of feeding; or ZH fed at 7.5 mg/kg, beginning 23 d before slaughter with a 3-d withdrawal. Two replicates (pens) per treatment were represented in four blocks. Eighteen carcasses per pen were randomly selected and one 5-cm LM sample was removed from both carcass sides to be used for shear force and sensory evaluation. Samples were aged for 14 d, frozen at -28.8°C, and cut into 2.5-cm steaks. All steaks were cooked to an internal temperature of 71.1°C before being evaluated for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), slice shear force (SSF), or being fed to trained sensory panelists. Increasing dose and potency of β-agonist increased WBSF by 4 to 17% and SSF by 5 to 24% (P < 0.05). Steaks from steers fed ZH had higher WBSF and SSF values compared with all other treatments (P < 0.05), whereas steaks from controls and steers fed RH 200 were not different (P > 0.05). Probability of steaks failing to meet shear force standards to be certified tender (WBSF <4.4 kg, SSF < 20 kg) was increased from an initial probability of <0.06 in steaks from steers in the control treatment to 0.10 to 0.20 in steers fed RH 400 or ZH (P < 0.05). No difference was detected in panel ratings for overall tenderness of steaks from steers fed RH 200 compared with controls (P > 0.05). Steaks from steers fed RH 300 and RH 400 were comparable for all sensory attributes; however, both RH 300 and RH 400 were rated lower for overall tenderness than controls (P < 0.05). Panelists failed to detect differences in overall tenderness of steaks from steers fed RH 400 and ZH (P < 0.05). Panelists detected no difference in flavor profile or juiciness among treatments (P > 0.05). Results from this study indicated β-agonists negatively affected beef tenderness and these effects may be more noticeable in steers supplemented with ZH and higher doses of RH.