Effect of Feeding Palm Oil on Finishing Cattle Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Methane Production

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Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Anna M. Kobza, graduate student 

Rebecca C. McDermott, research technician 

Mitch M. Norman, former research technician 

Josh R. Benton, postdoc, beef feedlot unit director, ENREEC 

Long Zou, Bunge, St. Charles, MO 

James C. MacDonald, professor, Animal Science

Lincoln Galen E. Erickson, professor, Animal Science, Lincoln

Summary with Implications

Increased demand for biofuel production has increased demand and price of commonly fed supplemental fat sources in beef operations. This finishing study evaluated the effect of feeding palm oil products on performance, carcass characteristics and methane production of feedlot finishing steers. Dietary treatments were feeding no supplemental fat or feeding one of the following fat sources at 4% of diet dry matter: whole palm oil, palm stearin, palm olein, or corn oil. Feeding supplemental fat, regardless of source, increased final body weight, average daily gain, and hot carcass weight. Feeding supplemental fat had no effect on dry matter intake, but an improvement in average daily gain led to improved feed conversion compared to cattle fed diets without supplemental fat. Marbling score was greater in carcasses of cattle consuming olein and stearin oil; however, no other differences in carcass characteristics were observed. A subset of pens sourced from the no oil or whole palm oil treatments were selected to rotate through chambers that measure enteric methane and carbon dioxide. Feeding whole palm oil reduced enteric methane yield (g/lb of DMI) by 14.8% compared to feeding no oil. These results suggest palm oil products can be used as a fat source for finishing cattle to improve feed efficiency and decrease methane production.

Conclusion

Feeding supplemental fat in finishing diets increased carcass weight gains of finishing cattle compared to feeding no supplemental fat but had minimal impact on intake. As a result, feed conversions were improved for cattle consuming diets containing fat, but no differences were detected between sources. Feeding fat did not impact carcass traits. Adding supplemental fat reduced methane emissions by 17.4% in cattle fed whole palm oil compared to no oil. Feeding palm oil products in feedlot finishing diets may be an economical fat source that improves conversion and reduces methane production.

Acknowledgements: Funding for this study was provided by Bunge. Products used in this study were provided by Elanco Animal Health and Merck Animal Health. 

Download a .pdf of the full study here.

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