Effect of Several Combinations of Grass and Grain in the Ration of Beef Steers on the Color Characteristics of Lean and Fat

Abstract

Sixty steers were fed six different rations composed of varying amounts of grain and grass. A sample from each carcass was analyzed for moisture, fat, myoglobin, total pigment, color reflectance of lean and yellow pigment in the fat. Significant differences were found between certain treatments for all measurements involving color of lean and fat. The differences in color of lean were due to varying amounts of fat and moisture rather than to a difference in the quantity of pigments present. With respect to color all samples aged equally well during a 7-day storage period at 35° F. The brightest colored samples prior to storage, however, were also the brightest after storage. Copyright © . .