PSIII-A-14 - Lysophospholipids Supplementation Increases Growth Performance and Hot Carcass Weight in Finishing Beef Steers

Abstract: The objectives were to evaluate the effects of lysophospholipids supplementation on growth performance and carcass traits of finishing beef steers. Simmental x Angus steers (n = 126; BW 246 ± 30.8 kg) from two contemporary groups were utilized in a randomized complete block design. Steers were blocked by BW, stratified by sire and source herd, and allotted into 21 pens with 6 steers each. Pens (7 pens per treatment) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 0 g (LPL0), 5 g (LPL5) or 10 g (LPL10) of lysophospholipids per steer daily (Lipidol® Ultra; Pathways Intermediates USA, LLC). Treatments were delivered via a ground corn-based supplement (0.45 kg/hd) which was added to a dry rolled corn-based finishing ration fed in GrowSafe bunks. After 210 days, steers were slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. Data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with fixed effects of dietary treatment and block, and random effects of herd source and pen nested within treatment. Overall, final BW was greater (P = 0.01) in steers fed LPL5 (651 kg) and LPL10 (648 kg) compared with LPL0 (627 kg). Moreover, steers fed LPL0 had decreased (P = 0.01) ADG compared with LPL5 and LPL10. No treatment differences were observed in dry matter intake or gain:feed (P > 0.16). Steers fed LPL5 (399 kg) and LPL10 (399 kg) had increased (P = 0.05) hot carcass weight compared with those fed LPL0 (387 kg). Additionally, steers fed LPL10 tended to have a greater (P = 0.06) dressing percentage than LPL5. In conclusion, lysophospholipids fed at 5 or 10 g per steer daily increased growth performance and hot carcass weight in finishing beef steers.