Effect of zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation on cutability and subprimal yield of beef steer carcasses

Beef steers (n = 11,877) from 7 studies were fed zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) for 0 or 20 to 40 d before slaughter to determine the effects of ZH on subprimal weight and yield. Carcasses were selected based on mean HCW of treatment groups for fabrication into boneless, closely trimmed, or denuded subprimals, lean, fat, and bone. Data from the 7 trials were pooled for statistical analysis. Feeding ZH increased (P < 0.05) weights of all major subprimals compared with steers not supplemented with ZH. Also, subprimals from the hindquarter, including valuable cuts like the tenderloin, strip loin, and top sirloin butt, increased (P < 0.05) as a percentage of cold carcass weight from steers fed ZH. The tenderloin was 0.06 percentage units greater (P < 0.05), the strip loin was 0.08 percentage units greater (P < 0.05), and the top sirloin butt was 0.11 percentage units greater (P < 0.05) in ZH-fed steers when compared with steers not fed ZH. Supplementation of ZH greatly increased (P < 0.05) total saleable carcass yield by 1.76 percentage units, whereas ZH inclusion decreased (P < 0.05) the percentage of fat trim and bone by 0.58 and 1.10 percentage units, respectively. Therefore, ZH can be utilized by the beef industry to improve red meat yield efficiency throughout the beef production chain.