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Quality control for vitamin E beef

The importance of livestock receiving a vitamin at the intended level takes on a new aspect with the development of vitamin E beef programs. In this case, the goal is to ensure that retailers do indeed receive the value-added product they've paid a premium for. Only when quality control programs give that assurance will the industry be able to capture the full value of vitamin E beef by reducing premature meat discoloration -- a problem that costs the industry about $1 billion a year.

As much as to maintain the integrity of a vitamin E beef program itself, quality control procedures can help participating feedlots start their programs correctly and avoid later surprises when expecting a premium for cattle in the vitamin E program. Repeated at regular intervals, the quality control procedures can then help the participating feedlots remain on track, and can also help them improve the overall quality of their feeding management.

Although specific procedures will vary from one vitamin E beef program to another, the following verification program is fairly typical of a thorough, effective approach to quality control.

 
Analyzing the Feed

When instituting a vitamin E feeding program, the feedlot should follow these directions for feed analysis to verify that supplemental vitamin E is in fact being included in the ration at the rate of 500 IU per head daily:

  • Take multiple grab samples from the bunk of freshly delivered feed. Do this from several pens and place in a 5-gallon pail. Be careful to take equal amounts of feed from the bunk of each pen sampled.
  • Mix the contents of the pail thoroughly and take a 1-lb subsample, which represents the average feed for the day. This should be stored in a cool, dry place -- refrigerated if possible.
  • Repeat this sampling and subsampling procedure at least three days during the week. At the end of the week, mix the daily 1-lb samples thoroughly and take a 1-lb subsample to represent the average feed for the week. This composite sample should be frozen and stored until it is shipped to the laboratory for analysis.
  • Repeat this weekly sampling procedure at least once, or until analysis shows that the feeding system is functioning as designed and the cattle are receiving 500 IU of vitamin E per head daily.

 

Once the feeding system is verified, monthly spot checks of representative samples will help ensure that the correct vitamin E content of the ration is maintained.

 
Certifying the Beef

At the packer, the first lot of cattle received from every new participant will be sampled and analyzed for vitamin E concentration. This is in keeping with studies such as Faustman et al. (1989) and Smith (1996); the target average tissue level is 3.3 µg per gram necessary to lengthen color shelf life for retailers.

Sampled muscle is the Rectus capitis dorsalis major, which is found on both sides of the first cervical vertebra. Following a successful initial sampling and analysis, each participant's cattle will be randomly sampled, with approximately 10 percent of the participating feedyards being sampled weekly.

Any load of cattle that has an average vitamin E tissue content below 2.5 µg per gram will be reanalyzed. If it is still found to be below the minimum threshold, the program's quality control center will be notified and the next load of cattle from this feedyard will be automatically sampled and analyzed. A second below-threshold finding will trigger an audit to verify that at least 500 IU of vitamin E was fed per head per day for at least 100 days preceding slaughter.

 
Uncovering or Preventing Problems

With good management, the straightforward nature of vitamin E feeding programs should make errors and the risk of lost premiums rare. However, if an audit is called for, it will confirm that feed volumes, purchase timing and vitamin E fortification levels have been appropriate to supply 500 IU per head per day for the last 100 days of feed.

Records that will be checked include the number of head supplemented for the program, the date the pens entered the program, and the source and daily use rates of vitamin E (Figure 1). Feedyards should maintain this documentation for 90 days after shipment of the cattle to the packer.

 
Figure 1

If it is determined that the cattle are below the threshold for tissue levels of vitamin E, the feedyard's eligibility for participating in the program will be jeopardized and any premiums paid to the yard may be forfeited.

Feedyards that do not have to undergo an audit should still have a yearly review of their vitamin E feeding program. This will help prevent costly errors and ensure the integrity of the program.

 

References:

  • Faustman, C., et al. 1989. Vitamin E supplementation of Holstein steer diets improves sirloin steak color. J. Food Sci. 54:485.
  • Smith, G. 1996. Beef for domestic and international markets -- strategic alliances for supplementing vitamin E to increase shelf life and retail case life. Presentation to the Liquid Feed Symposium on the American Feed Industry Association, Omaha, Nebraska.

 
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