Abstract
This study examined the effect of dietary rumen-protected histidine (HIS) supplementation in cattle on growth and carcass traits/product quality. Three levels of daily HIS were tested over a 60-d finishing period in 48 cross-bred steers. Cattle were randomly allocated into eight pens (six hd/each) and fed using Calan gates. Morning feed was top-dressed with the HIS; control (no HIS), low HIS (50g/hd/d), or high HIS (100g/hd/d). Individual intakes were recorded, and feed and orts were analyzed. Post-harvest, one longissimus lumborum and one gluteus medius was acquired from each animal and cut into steaks. Steaks were used for retail display to evaluate color and lipid oxidation, cookery data, WBSF, consumer perception and for free histidine, anserine, and carnosine content analysis. HIS supplementation increased ADG, instrumental and visual color, sensory components, and free HIS content of the lean tissue. In conclusion, RP-histidine treatment may optimize product quality and marketability in beef cattle.