High-density diet improves growth performance and beef yield but affects negatively on serum metabolism and visceral morphology of Holstein steers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different dietary densities on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, serum metabolism, ruminal papillae morphology and liver injuries of steers. For this purpose, a total of eighteen Holstein steers were randomly fed one of the three diets: high energy and protein diet (H), standard energy and protein diet (C), and low energy and protein diet (L) for 11 months fattening with three-step finishing strategy. Steers fed with H diet had higher (p < .05) average daily gain, feed efficiency, hot carcass weight, serum aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio, and monounsaturated fatty acids along with continuous low ruminal pH value, severer hepatic steatosis and ruminal papillae parakeratosis. Meanwhile, steers fed L diet increased the proportion of C20:0, C22:6n-3, saturated fatty acids and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids along with lower n-6 to n-3 ratio in longissimus dorsi muscle as compared to that of steers fed H diet. Dietary densities did not influence (p > .10) proximate nutrients and sensory characteristics of beef. The present study indicates that Holstein steers could achieve better growth and carcass performance under high-density diet, whereas they are under threat of visceral injuries and metabolic disorders. This study gives comprehensive relationship between productivity and animal health and suggests that a proper diet should be adopted for fattening Holstein steers in consideration of both beef quality and quantity and animal health.