An Investigation into the Prevention of Dark Cutting in Cattle Due to the Effects of Altitude and Silage

The objective of the study was to investigate methods for the prevention of dark cutting in meat from cattle due to high altitude origin and silage use in fattening. Brown Swiss male vealers (n=83) were sourced from the highlands of the Eastern Anatolian Region of Turkey, where the altitude is approximately 1.800 m, and transported to Antalya province. Holstein male vealers (n=43) were sourced from Antalya province. Both Brown Swiss and Holstein male veal were divided into four groups. Group-I: Basic ration plus sunflower meal (SFM); Group-II: Basic ration(BR) plus sunflower meal(SFM) and 2.000 IU vitamin E/head/day; Group III: Basic ration(BR) plus cottonseed meal(CSM) and 2.000 IU vitamin E/head/day and Group IV: Basic ration(BR) plus cottonseed meal. Vitamin E supplements were provided for 120 day before slaughter. Mean musculus longissimus dorsi dark carcass rates measured in Brown Swiss and Holstein male vealers were 55.40% and 67.40% at pH=6.01, respectively, at 24 h after slaughter. Vit-E supplementation lessened the dark carcass problem so meat color traits of bulls transported from high altitude to low altitude and raised with high levels of silage can be improved with cottonseed meal plus Vit-E supplementation.