Feed ingredients effect on meat taste

[shaz]

Finishing a couple of Brangus heifers with my usual 17% crude protein 5% fat course feed. It looks like corn, dried distillers, soy hull pellets and molasses. Have tried to mix extra shell corn into it but the cows don't seem to care for it to the point of refusal.

Question is, do I really have to increase the corn and is anyone aware of any feed ingredients that negatively effect meat taste?

 

[Little Joe]

I've been told too much Corn Gluten Feed will. Also been told to avoid cotton by-products due to the chemicals used on cotton.I feed a ration that's 25% corn gluten feed and hasn't effected meat taste.

 

[M.Magis]

I’ve had a couple that didn’t care for shelled corn, but would eat a bucket full of cracked corn. Might be worth a try.

 

[sstterry]

I've been told too much Corn Gluten Feed will. Also been told to avoid cotton by-products due to the chemicals used on cotton.I feed a ration that's 25% corn gluten feed and hasn't effected meat taste.

I have been told the same.

 

[Redgully]

Isn't soy products meant to give the meat a strange taste?

 

[Stocker Steve]

Yes, your protein level is too high for a finishing ration.

Word is byproduct based meat tastes different than corn fed. But how do you know which one is "strange"?

 

[shaz]

I’ve had a couple that didn’t care for shelled corn, but would eat a bucket full of cracked corn. Might be worth a try.

I'll give it a shot, can't hurt to try.

 

[sstterry]

I’ve had a couple that didn’t care for shelled corn, but would eat a bucket full of cracked corn. Might be worth a try.

I'll give it a shot, can't hurt to try.

The last steer I finished would eat shelled corn, but would not eat cracked corn. I suspect that given time, they will eventually acquire a taste for the different textures.

 

[shaz]

Yes, your protein level is too high for a finishing ration.

Word is byproduct based meat tastes different than corn fed. But how do you know which one is "strange"?

I use the 17% because I only have one bin and that's what I use for weening calves. I only finish a couple of cows per year.