Organoleptic, Chemical and Bacterial Characteristics of Meat and Offals from Beef Cattle Fed Wet Poultry Excreta

Three groups of growing-finishing beef cattle were fed soybean meal, urea or acetic-propionic acid-treated wet-cage layer excreta as a protein supplement for 125 days. Rib-roasts from the cattle were evaluated for cooking loss, juiciness, flavor, tenderness and overall acceptability. Rib cuts were analyzed for moisture, fat and protein, and samples of the liver, heart, kidney, and longissimus muscle were analyzed for cadmium, lead, copper, iron, calcium and phosphorus. In addition, gall bladders and mesenteric lymph nodes obtained from the cattle at slaughter as well as layer excreta samples were cultured for salmonellae. No significant differences were found in any of the factors studied. Salmonellae were isolated from the cage layer excreta, but not from cattle tissues. Apparently, feeding organic acid-treated wet cage layer excreta to cattle would not affect the nutritive value, organoleptic quality or wholesomeness of beef.