Investigation of Alternatives to Ionophore/Antibiotic Management Strategies in Finishing Cattle and the Inherent Effect on Beef Quality and Shelf Life

Abstract

With growing antimicrobial resistance concerns and new regulations limiting the use of antibiotics in livestock production, research for plant-based alternatives to antibiotics with antimicrobial effects is needed. This study investigated the effects of replacing monensin and tylosin with essential oils and(or) benzoic acid in finishing cattle diets. Sixty-eight crossbred steers were blocked by 3 initial weight categories and within each block, 1 of 5 finishing dietary treatments were randomly assigned: control (CON); monensin/tylosin (M/T); essential oil (EO); benzoic acid (BA); and a combination of EO and BA (COMBO). Monensin/tylosin supplemented steers had greater feed efficiency compared with steers fed CON, EO, and COMBO diets. However, EO and(or) BA supplemented beef finishing diets did not negatively affect most other major growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, sensory traits, colour and oxidative stability of steaks and ground beef when compared with cattle fed no additives or conventionally fed cattle supplemented with M/T.