Feed formulation becomes a measurable lever for beef quality

A trial with Simmental-cross bulls shows how a specific feed change can affect meat quality—and why nutrition findings should not be transferred automatically between production systems. The researchers replaced 45% of cracked corn with high-moisture corn and assessed performance, carcass traits, meat quality, muscle metabolism and faecal microbiota.

Under the conditions of the experiment, the high-moisture-corn group achieved improved performance and carcass indicators. Its meat had more intramuscular fat and protein, lower shear force and improved colour. Metabolomic work pointed to greater activity in lipid-related pathways, while the faecal microbiota showed greater alpha diversity and shifts in bacterial groups. These are linked observations within an experimental design, not proof of universally transferable commercial causation.

The practical value lies in the integrated approach. Feed formulation does not end with daily gain or feed conversion: it can alter the muscle’s metabolic setting and thereby influence traits that later matter for grading, ageing, cutting and eating quality. For procurement and production, the findings support connecting feed, carcass and batch-quality data.

Transfer requires caution. Breed, forage proportion, corn preservation, finishing duration, climate and pre-slaughter management may all change the outcome. Before altering a ration, a business should define the quality attribute it seeks, the measurement that will verify it, and the reference batch against which the effect will be compared.