Short communication: evaluation of feeding a glycerol-based electrolyte solution prior to harvest in beef steers

The objective of this experiment was to determine if supplementation with a glycerol-based electrolyte solution in the drinking water prior to shipping for harvest increased carcass weight and enhanced carcass quality in beef steers. The solution used (HydraFit-Selko USA, Indianapolis IN) contained: potassium chloride, acetic acid, magnesium hydroxide, sodium propionate, and sodium chloride; 5.10% potassium, 1.00% sodium, and 0.87% magnesium. Steers (n = 40; 20 steers per treatment; BW = 659 ± 72.9 kg) were weighed 40 hour prior to harvest, blocked by BW (n = 4 BW blocks), and assigned to one of two treatments: no glycerol-based electrolyte solution (Control) or use of a glycerol-based electrolyte solution (GES) added to the water at 4% vol/vol (4 pens/treatment, 8 pens total). Feed and water access was not restricted nor was a shrink percentage applied to any BW measures. Thirty-six hours prior to harvest a 378 L water tank was filled with water from the same source the steers had been consuming for the previous 126 d. Water and feed were introduced 36 hour prior to harvest. Final BW was captured immediately before shipping (12 hour prior to harvest). Cattle were transported 98 km to a commercial abattoir. Cattle were held in lairage with ad libitum access to water prior to harvest the following morning. Water intake pre-shipment was determined after the cattle were removed from the pens and transported to slaughter, allowing 22.5 hours of access to feed and water prior to shipping. Water volume was estimated by measuring water depth remaining in the tank. Depth measurements were calibrated to water volume by metering (DM-P; Assured Automation, Roselle, NJ; ± 1.0%) 0.64 cm of water into each tank and recording the liters of water metered. Hot carcass weight was determined at the time of slaughter and cold carcass weight was determined after a 48-hour chill. Providing a glycerol-based electrolyte solution, Hydrafit, to finished beef cattle in their drinking water for approximately 22.5 hours prior to shipping for harvest tended to increase the final live weight (P = 0.08) by 1%, but had no effect (P ≥ 0.88) on hot or cold carcass weight.