Feed formula and fattening method for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle

Abstract

Provided is a feed formula and fattening method for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle. This application belongs to the technical field of beef cattle farming. The feed formula capable of improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle provided in this application includes the following raw materials: a roughage, a concentrate, a rumen-protected amino acid, and a mineral nutrient-containing lick block. In the feed formula provided in this application, other than the concentrate, the roughage, and the rumen-protected amino acid, mineral elements are supplemented in the form of a lick block, which can significantly improve the growth performance and beef quality of beef cattle. 20 25 20 48 56 27 J un 2 02 5 A B S T R A C T 2 0 2 5 2 0 4 8 5 6 2 7 J u n 2 0 2 5

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of beef cattle farming, and specifically relates to a feed formula and fattening method for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle. BACKGROUND

[0002] Ruminants rely on their vast and complex rumen microbial systems to convert dietary plant fibers and non-protein nitrogen into human-edible products such as meat and milk. Ruminants contribute approximately 45% of the global animal protein production. As a high-quality protein source, beef is much richer in functional components such as conjugated linoleic acid, carnitine, creatine, and biohydrogenation intermediates than pork and poultry. These functional components demonstrate positive effects for human health by reducing fat intake and preventing diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Despite the growth trend of beef production over the past five years, the supply of high-quality beef still fails to meet the market demand. Developing the beef cattle industry has become the strategic necessity to enrich the meat supply for residents.

[0003] The fattening period, as a critical window for rapid muscle and fat accumulation, is a crucial stage influencing the yield and quality of beef. In the modern intensive farming, producers often adopt a high-concentrate diet feeding mode to enhance the production performance and efficiency of ruminants. Compared with roughage-based diets, high-concentrate diets are rapidly fermented by rumen microorganisms to cause the short-chain fatty acid accumulation and pH reduction in rumina, the dysbiosis and metabolic dysregulation of microfloras in rumina, and a series of animal health issues such as ruminal acidosis, which compromise the growth performance and beef quality and bring significant economic losses to the production of beef cattle. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a feasible fattening strategy to prevent diseases such as ruminal acidosis while maximizing the production efficiency.

[0004] Moreover, in the conventional high-concentrate fattening mode, the concentrate raw materials are costly, and the ordinary maize straws have poor digestibility and lead to poor improvement for meat quality, which affects the growth performance and economic benefits of beef cattle. Although there are reports on the supplementation of rumen-protected amino acids or mineral nutrient-containing lick blocks in the art, the rumen-protected amino acid technology and the lick block technology are not fully integrated currently in practical beef cattle feeding systems, and the formulation is not optimized. As a result, it fails to achieve the technical effect for comprehensively improving the growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle. 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 SUMMARY

[0005] In view of this, a first objective of the present disclosure is to provide a feed formula for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle.

[0006] A second objective of the present disclosure is to provide a fattening method for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle.

[0007] To achieve the objectives of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides the following technical solutions:

[0008] The present disclosure provides a feed for not compromising growth and production performance of beef cattle, including the following raw materials in parts by weight:

[0009] 50 parts to 75 parts of a concentrate and 50 parts to 25 parts of a roughage,

[0010] where the concentrate includes corn, a sprayed corn husk, a corn protein powder, corn Distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a soybean meal, a rapeseed meal, a palm kernel meal, a stone powder, and a premix in a weight ratio of 50:25:1.5:2.5:4:12.5:1.5:1:2; and

[0011] the roughage is a corn straw obtained after a crushing and rubbing process, and the corn straw obtained after the crushing and rubbing process has a length of 3 cm to 5 cm.

[0012] The present disclosure also provides a feed formula for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle, including the feed, a rumen-protected amino acid, and a mineral nutrient-containing lick block.

[0013] Preferably, the rumen-protected amino acid includes rumen-protected lysine and rumen-protected methionine, and a mass ratio of the rumen-protected lysine to the rumen-protected methionine is 1:2.

[0014] Preferably, the mineral nutrient-containing lick block includes the following components: 10% of molasses, 66% of a salt, 10% of bentonite, 6% of quicklime, and 8% of a trace element premix.

[0015] Preferably, guaranteed values for trace elements per 1 kg of the mineral nutrient-containing lick block are as follows: iron: 2,800 mg, manganese: 2,000 mg, zinc: 1,200 mg, copper: 800 mg, iodine: 300 mg, cobalt: 80 mg, and selenium: 20 mg.

[0016] The present disclosure also provides a fattening method for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle, including: dividing a fattening process into an early stage, a middle stage, and a late stage; at the early stage, feeding with the feed formula described above in which a weight ratio of the concentrate to the roughage is 50:50; at the middle stage, feeding with the feed formula described above in which a weight ratio of the concentrate to the roughage is 60:40; and at the late stage, feeding with the feed formula described above in which a weight ratio of the concentrate to the roughage is 75:25, where throughout the fattening process, an amount of the rumen-protected amino acid remains unchanged, and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block is 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 available for free feeding.

[0017] Preferably, the early stage refers to the first and second months of a fattening period for the beef cattle; the middle stage refers to the third, fourth, and fifth months of the fattening period for the beef cattle; and the late stage refers to the sixth and seventh months of the fattening period for the beef cattle.

[0018] Preferably, amounts of the rumen-protected lysine and the rumen-protected methionine per beef cattle are 10 g / d and 20 g / d, respectively.

[0019] Preferably, an amount of the mineral nutrient-containing lick block per beef cattle is 100 g / d to 200 g / d.

[0020] Preferably, the beef cattle include Angus cattle.

[0021] The present disclosure has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] The feed provided by the present disclosure adopts a cost-effective concentrate formula in combination with a corn straw obtained after a crushing and rubbing process, and the corn straw obtained after the crushing and rubbing process has, which reduces the cost of the feed without compromising the growth and production performance of beef cattle, thereby enhancing economic benefits.

[0023] In the feed formula provided by the present disclosure, a rumen-protected amino acid and a mineral nutrient-containing lick block are added to a concentrate and a roughage, which can significantly enhance the quality of beef and improve the growth performance of beef cattle. The feed formula of the present disclosure has been optimized in terms of components and contents thereof. In the feed formula, rumen-protected lysine and rumen-protected methionine are added to balance the amino acid composition in the small intestine and meet the amino acid requirements during the fattening period of beef cattle, thereby improving the growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle.

[0024] In the present disclosure, mineral and trace elements are supplemented in the form of a mineral nutrient-containing lick block. These mineral and trace elements can guarantee the mineral demand of beef cattle during a fattening process, improve the disease resistance of beef cattle, and reduce the risk of disease occurrence, so as to enhance the growth performance.

[0025] The fattening method provided by the present disclosure adopts a staged gradual fattening plan. A ratio of a concentrate to a roughage is adjusted at different stages, and an appropriate concentrate-to-roughage ratio is set for each fattening stage. The scientific feeding mode can meet the nutritional requirements of beef cattle at different fattening stages to allow the health and fast growth of beef cattle, significantly improve the growth performance of beef cattle, reduce the feed cost, and promote the overall economic benefits. The fattening method provided by the present disclosure can also improve the beef quality and meat color, and increase the contents of amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in muscles. The low-cost, efficient, and eco-friendly 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 fattening method provided by the present disclosure is of great significance for enhancing the economic benefits of beef cattle farming, and has an important application value and promotion prospect for the beef cattle farming industry. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows principal component analysis (PCA) plots of beef samples produced from different fattening methods; and

[0027] FIG. 2 shows differential metabolite pathways of beef samples produced from different fattening methods. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The present disclosure provides a feed for not compromising growth and production performance of beef cattle, including the following raw materials in parts by weight:

[0029] 50 parts to 75 parts of a concentrate and 50 parts to 25 parts of a roughage. The concentrate includes corn, a sprayed corn husk, a corn protein powder, corn DDGS, a soybean meal, a rapeseed meal, a palm kernel meal, a stone powder, and a premix in a weight ratio of 50:25:1.5:2.5:4:12.5:1.5:1:2. The roughage is a corn straw obtained after a crushing and rubbing process, and the corn straw obtained after the crushing and rubbing process has a length of 3 cm to 5 cm.

[0030] The present disclosure has no special restriction on the specific sources of the raw materials. In the feed of the present disclosure, the length of the corn straw obtained after the crushing and rubbing process is preferably 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. The present disclosure adopts the corn straw obtained after the crushing and rubbing process has. The crushing and rubbing process improves the digestibility for crude fibers, enhances the nutritional utilization efficiency for the feed, and further promotes the growth of beef cattle and the improvement of meat quality. In the feed of the present disclosure, the concentrate includes the following nutritional components: 17.8% of a crude protein, 28.6% of a neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and 17.26 MJ / kg of total energy, and the roughage includes the following nutritional components (based on dry matters): 4.8% of a crude protein, 61.2% of NDF, and 15.66 MJ / kg of total energy. In the present disclosure, the premix in the concentrate is a 4% beef cattle compound premix purchased from COFCO.

[0031] The present disclosure also provides a feed formula for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle, including the feed, a rumen-protected amino acid, and a mineral nutrient-containing lick block.

[0032] In the feed formula of the present disclosure, the rumen-protected amino acid preferably includes rumen-protected lysine and rumen-protected methionine, and a mass ratio of the rumen-protected lysine to the rumen-protected methionine is preferably 1:2. A lysine content of the 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 rumen-protected lysine is preferably higher than or equal to 70%, and a methionine content of the rumen-protected methionine is preferably higher than or equal to 75%. Beef cattle have high requirements for amino acids and mineral elements during the fattening period. Thus, the conventional feed formula alone cannot fully meet the specific nutritional requirements of beef cattle during growth and production. The present disclosure maximizes the economic benefits by supplementing a rumen-protected amino acid and a mineral nutrient-containing lick block externally. The rumen-protected amino acid added in the present disclosure can ensure that amino acids pass through the rumen and enter the small intestine for absorption, which improves the digestibility of nutrients and thus increases the content of amino acids in muscles. The mineral nutrient-containing lick block can fulfill the demand of beef cattle for trace elements during growth, and can improve the meat color and the content of PUFAs, thereby improving the overall meat quality. The combined use of the rumen-protected amino acid and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block can comprehensively meet the nutritional needs of cattle, enhance the disease resistance of cattle, and optimize the production performance of cattle.

[0033] In the feed formula of the present disclosure, the mineral nutrient-containing lick block preferably includes the following components: 10% of molasses, 66% of a salt, 10% of bentonite, 6% of quicklime, and 8% of a trace element premix. Guaranteed values for trace elements per 1 kg of the mineral nutrient-containing lick block are preferably as follows: iron: 2,800 mg, manganese: 2,000 mg, zinc: 1,200 mg, copper: 800 mg, iodine: 300 mg, cobalt: 80 mg, and selenium: 20 mg. In the present disclosure, the mineral nutrient-containing lick block is prepared by pressing a raw material into a block with a pressing device.

[0034] A preparation method of the feed formula of the present disclosure is preferably as follows: The rumen-protected amino acid is added to the concentrate, mixing is conducted to produce a mixture, and the mixture is then mixed with the roughage to produce a total mixed ration. The mineral nutrient-containing lick block is added to a feeding trough of a beef cattle pen through a lick brick tray, such that beef cattle can lick freely.

[0035] The present disclosure also provides a fattening method for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle, including: A fattening process is divided into an early stage, a middle stage, and a late stage. At the early stage, feeding is conducted with the feed formula described above in which a weight ratio of the concentrate to the roughage is 50:50. At the middle stage, feeding is conducted with the feed formula described above in which a weight ratio of the concentrate to the roughage is 60:40. At the late stage, feeding is conducted with the feed formula described above in which a weight ratio of the concentrate to the roughage is 75:25. Throughout the fattening process, an amount of the rumen-protected amino acid remains unchanged, and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block is available for free feeding.

[0036] In the fattening method of the present disclosure, the early stage preferably refers to the first 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 and second months of a fattening period for the beef cattle, the middle stage preferably refers to the third, fourth, and fifth months of the fattening period for the beef cattle, and the late stage preferably refers to the sixth and seventh months of the fattening period for the beef cattle. In the present disclosure, the feeding at the early stage is conducted with a large proportion of the roughage and a small proportion of the concentrate, which can accommodate the digestive system of cattle. At the middle stage, the proportion of the concentrate increases while the proportion of the roughage decreases to promote the rapid growth and muscle development of cattle. At the late stage, the proportion of the concentrate further increases to enhance the supply of energy and proteins, thereby promoting the fat deposition and the meat quality improvement. In the fattening method of the present disclosure, amounts of the rumen-protected lysine and the rumen-protected methionine per beef cattle are preferably 10 g / d and 20 g / d, respectively, and an amount of the mineral nutrient-containing lick block per beef cattle is preferably 100 g / d to 200 g / d.

[0037] In the present disclosure, the beef cattle are preferably Angus cattle.

[0038] The technical solutions provided by the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but these examples should not be construed as limiting the claimed scope of the present disclosure.

[0039] Unless otherwise specified, all methods in the following examples are conventional methods.

[0040] All materials and reagents used in the following examples may be commercially available, unless otherwise specified.

[0041] Example 1

[0042] A low-cost feed for not compromising growth and production performance of beef cattle is provided, including the following raw materials in parts by weight:

[0043] 50 kg of a concentrate and 50 kg of a roughage.

[0044] The concentrate includes corn, a sprayed corn husk, a corn protein powder, corn DDGS, a soybean meal, a rapeseed meal, a palm kernel meal, a stone powder, and a premix in a weight ratio of 50:25:1.5:2.5:4:12.5:1.5:1:2. The premix is a 4% beef cattle compound premix purchased from COFCO.

[0045] The roughage is a corn straw obtained after a crushing and rubbing process, and the corn straw obtained after the crushing and rubbing process has a length of 4 cm.

[0046] A preparation method of the low-cost feed was as follows: A corn straw was crushed and rubbed to a length of 4 cm to produce the corn straw obtained after the crushing and rubbing process has, and the corn straw obtained after the crushing and rubbing process has was then mixed with the concentrate to produce the low-cost feed.

[0047] Comparative Example 1

[0048] This comparative example was different from Example 1 merely in that a commercial 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 concentrate mainly based on corn and a soybean meal was adopted as the concentrate, and an ordinary corn straw was adopted as the roughage.

[0049] Comparative Example 2

[0050] This comparative example was different from Example 1 merely in that a commercial concentrate mainly based on corn and a soybean meal was adopted as the concentrate.

[0051] Comparative Example 3

[0052] This comparative example was different from Example 1 merely in that an ordinary corn straw was adopted as the roughage.

[0053] Example 2

[0054] 40 healthy Angus cattle that had similar initial body weights and were at an age of 7.5 months were selected and randomly divided into an Example 1 group, a Comparative Example 1 group, a Comparative Example 2 group, and a Comparative Example 3 group, with 10 cattle in each group. A 7 month beef cattle feeding test was conducted for effect evaluation. The growth performance (including a daily weight gain, an average daily feed intake, and a dressing percentage) and the NDF digestibility were determined for different groups of Angus cattle.

[0055] The cost analysis was conducted for the four types of feed combinations in Example 1, Comparative Example 1, Comparative Example 2, and Comparative Example 3 (as shown in Table 1). Results show that a cost of the low-cost feed in Example 1 is only 25 yuan / ton higher than a cost of the feed in Comparative Example 3, and is far lower than costs of the feeds in Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

[0056] Results of the beef cattle feeding test (Table 2) show that the low-cost feed of Example 1 is not significantly different from the feeds in the other three groups in terms of the daily weight gain and dressing percentage (P > 0.05), while Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 allow significantly-higher NDF digestibility than Comparative Examples 1 and 3. It can be inferred that the low-cost feed in Example 1 has no significant impact on the growth and production performance of beef cattle, and the crushing and rubbing process for corn straws significantly increases the degradation rate of fibers. In summary, the feed in Example 1 can significantly reduce the feed cost without compromising the growth and production performance of beef cattle, which can significantly improve the economic benefits of beef cattle farming and has an important application value.

[0057] Table 1 Cost analysis of the low-cost feed in Example 1 and the three feeds in Comparative Examples 1 to 3

[0058] Group Comparative Example 1 Comparative Example 2 Comparative Example 3 Example 1 Concentrate cost (yuan / ton) 3000 3000 2200 2200 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 Roughage cost (yuan / ton) 450 500 450 500 Total cost (yuan / ton) 1725 1750 1325 1350

[0059] Table 2 Evaluation of feeding effects of the low-cost feed and the three feeds in Comparative Examples 1 to 3 for beef cattle

[0060] ____________________.___________________________.___________________________._______________________________.________________ Group Comparative Example 1 Comparative Example 2 Comparative Example 3 Example 1 P value Daily weight gain (kg) 0.77 0.78 0.74 0.76 0.608 Dressing percentage (%) 51.6 51.8 51.2 51.4 0.545 NDF digestibility (%) 62.5 66.4 63.2 68.6 0.032

[0061] Example 3

[0062] A feed formula for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle is provided, including the low-cost feed in Example 1, a rumen-protected amino acid, and a mineral nutrient-containing lick block.

[0063] The rumen-protected amino acid includes rumen-protected lysine (lysine content: higher than or equal to 70%) and rumen-protected methionine (methionine content: higher than or equal to 75%). During the fattening period, amounts of the rumen-protected lysine and the rumen-protected methionine per beef cattle are 10 g / d and 20 g / d, respectively.

[0064] The mineral nutrient-containing lick block includes the following raw materials in weight percentages: 10% of molasses, 66% of a salt, 10% of bentonite, 6% of quicklime, and 8% of a trace element premix. Guaranteed values for trace elements per 1 kg of the mineral nutrient-containing lick block are as follows: iron: 2,800 mg, manganese: 2,000 mg, zinc: 1,200 mg, copper: 800 mg, iodine: 300 mg, cobalt: 80 mg, and selenium: 20 mg.

[0065] A preparation method of the feed formula was as follows: The rumen-protected amino acid was added to the concentrate of the low-cost feed in Example 1, mixing was conducted to produce a mixture, and the mixture was then mixed with the roughage to produce a total mixed ration. The mineral nutrient-containing lick block was added to a feeding trough of a beef cattle pen through a lick brick tray, such that beef cattle could lick freely.

[0066] Comparative Example 4

[0067] This comparative example was different from Example 3 merely in that the rumen-protected amino acid was not added.

[0068] Comparative Example 5

[0069] This comparative example was different from Example 3 merely in that the mineral nutrient-containing lick block was not included.

[0070] Comparative Example 6

[0071] This comparative example was different from Example 3 merely in that the 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 rumen-protected amino acid was merely rumen-protected lysine.

[0072] Example 4

[0073] 50 healthy Angus cattle at an age of 7.5 months were selected and randomly divided into an Example 3 group, an Example 1 group, a Comparative Example 4 group, a Comparative Example 5 group, and a Comparative Example 6 group, with 10 cattle in each group. The Angus cattle in the groups had similar initial carcass weights and meat qualities without significant differences. A 7 month beef cattle feeding test was conducted for effect evaluation. The growth performance (including a daily weight gain, an average daily feed intake, a dressing percentage, and a rumen pH value), the meat quality of the longissimus dorsi (including a pH, a shear force, a meat brightness (L), a meat redness (a), a meat yellowness (b), and a drip loss), and the nutritional components of a muscle (including moisture, crude protein, and intramuscular fat) were determined for different groups of Angus cattle.

[0074] As shown in Table 3, the 5 groups of beef cattle have a basically-consistent feed intake, while Example 3 has a significantly-higher daily weight gain and dressing percentage than Example 1, Comparative Example 4, Comparative Example 5, and Comparative Example 6(P < 0.05), indicating that Example 3 allows better growth and production performance than the other four groups.

[0075] As shown in Table 4, muscle pH values of the five groups are stabilized at 6.45 to 6.54, Example 1 allows a significantly-larger muscle shear force than Example 3 and Comparative Example 6, and Example 3 and Comparative Example 5 have significantly-smaller drip losses than Example 1. The change in a meat color mainly depends on the content and state of myoglobin. Myoglobin can be combined with oxygen to produce bright-red oxymyoglobin. Both myoglobin and oxymyoglobin can be oxidized into metmyoglobin, which makes the meat brown. In terms of L, a, and b values for a meat color, among the five groups, a muscle in Example 3 has the best glossiness, the highest redness, and the lowest yellowness. In terms of nutritional components, the muscle of Example 3 has a crude protein content of 23.7%, which is significantly higher than crude protein contents of the other four groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the muscle in Example 3 has the optimal meat quality, indicating that the combined addition of the rumen-protected amino acid and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block can significantly improve the meat quality of fattened Angus cattle.

[0076] Table 3 Growth performance and rumen health of Angus cattle under different feed formulas

[0077] Item Example 3 Example 1 Comparative Example 4 Comparative Example 5 Comparative Example 6 P value Daily weight gain (kg) 0.96 0.77 0.83 0.85 0.85 0.026 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 Average daily feed intake (kg) 9.56 9.46 9.45 9.49 9.61 0.852 Dressing percentage (%) 55.2 51.1 51.0 50.6 52.1 0.041 Rumen pH value 6.58 6.50 6.50 6.42 6.52 0.024

[0078] Table 4 Qualities and nutritional components of meat from Angus cattle under different feed formulas

[0079] Item Example 3 Example 1 Comparative Example 4 Comparative Example 5 Comparative Example 6 P value pH 6.54 6.52 6.50 6.45 6.48 0.564 Shear force 9.1 11.2 10.6 10.4 9.5 0.021 Drip loss 0.52 0.85 0.75 0.56 0.65 0.009 Meat color-L 44.5 38.2 39.2 38.6 39.0 0.024 Meat color-a 24.4 19.8 21.6 22.4 21.5 0.031 Meat color-b 6.2 7.6 8.2 7.5 7.6 0.018 Moisture (%) 74.8 73.6 72.8 73.8 73.8 0.254 Crude protein (%) 23.7 20.6 21.2 20.8 20.7 0.046 Intramuscular fat (%) 2.35 2.28 2.30 2.31 2.30 0.566

[0080] Note: Data for the nutritional components in a muscle tissue is calculated based on a fresh weight of the muscle tissue.

[0081] Given that a muscle flavor is closely associated with flavor ingredients such as amino acids and fatty acids, the differences in amino acid and fatty acid compositions between Example 3 and Example 1 are specifically determined to elucidate the mechanism by which the rumen-protected amino acid and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block improve the meat quality. As shown in Table 5, compared with Example 1, a lysine content in the muscle of Example 3 remains stable, while a methionine content in the muscle increases by 54% (P < 0.05). It should be noted that, in Example 3, the contents of the umami amino acid Glu, the sweetness amino acids Ser, Gly, and Ala, and the branched-chain amino acids Val, Ile, and Leu in a muscle are significantly increased by supplementing the rumen-protected amino acid and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block (P < 0.05). These results all indicate that the addition of the rumen-protected amino acid and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block improves the quality of a muscle by enhancing the amino acid composition of the muscle.

[0082] Table 5 Influence of the addition of the rumen-protected amino acid and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block on amino acid profiles for muscles of Angus cattle

[0083] 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 Amino acid (pg / g) Example 1 Example 3 Standard deviation P value Methionine (Met) 23.94 36.93 2.49 0.002 Lysine (Lys) 44.49 39.18 3.86 0.531 Aspartic acid (Asp) 1.76 1.56 0.24 0.705 Glutamic acid (Glu) 150.74 186.65 6.08 0.046 Threonine (Thr) 778.81 741.80 27.33 0.782 Serine (Ser) 45.25 65.37 4.46 0.014 Proline (Pro) 176.83 163.20 18.97 0.742 Glycine (Gly) 65.89 108.05 10.03 0.027 Alanine (Ala) 330.42 482.52 29.31 0.044 Valine (Val) 57.54 73.77 2.40 0.038 Isoleucine (Ile) 45.53 68.98 4.72 0.030 Leucine (Leu) 109.20 144.38 8.54 0.043 Tyrosine (Tyr) 42.51 47.01 4.78 0.137 Phenylalanine (Phe) 65.09 74.63 5.75 0.206 Histidine (His) 18.67 22.31 1.64 0.294 Arginine (Arg) 51.52 48.99 6.72 0.862

[0084] Moreover, a composition of medium-chain to long-chain fatty acids in a muscle was determined. As shown in Table 6, compared with Example 1, Example 3 significantly reduces the contents of saturated fatty acids C17:0, C18:0, and C20:0 (P < 0.05) and significantly increases the contents of PUFAs C18:2n6c, C18:3n3, and C20:4n6 (P < 0.05) by supplementing the rumen-protected amino acid and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block, indicating that the addition of the rumen-protected amino acid and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block improves the fatty acid profile for a muscle, and enhances the meat quality.

[0085] Table 6 Influence of the addition of the rumen-protected amino acid and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block on amino acid profiles for muscles of Angus cattle

[0086] Item Example 1 Example 3 Standard deviation P value Saturated fatty acid (SFA) Myristic acid (C14:0) 2.37 2.35 0.11 0.926 Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) 0.51 0.41 0.03 0.273 Palmitic acid (C16:0) 26.47 26.91 0.40 0.607 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 Heptadecanoic acid (C17:0) 1.15 0.95 0.04 0.011 Stearic acid (C18:0) 22.87 19.14 0.08 0.048 Arachidic acid (C20:0) 0.16 0.11 0.02 0.028 Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) Myristoleic acid (C14:1) 0.36 0.43 0.06 0.100 Palmitoleic acid (C16:1) 3.29 3.67 0.26 0.201 Eicosenoic acid (C20:1) 0.16 0.17 0.01 0.492 Elaidic acid (C18:1n9t) 0.26 0.26 0.01 0.704 Oleic acid (C18:1n9c) 36.94 38.54 0.97 0.443 PUFA Trans-linoleic acid (C18:2n6t) 0.12 0.13 0.03 0.282 Linoleic acid (C18:2n6c) 4.07 4.85 0.12 0.036 Linolenic acid (C18:3n3a) 0.17 0.29 0.01 0.047 Eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n6) 0.20 0.19 0.03 0.295 Arachidonic acid (C20:4n6) 0.88 1.59 0.17 0.032

[0087] Example 5

[0088] A feed formula capable of improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle is provided in this example. This example is different from Example 3 merely in that the feed of Example 1 includes 60 kg of the concentrate and 40 kg of the roughage.

[0089] Example 6

[0090] A feed formula capable of improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle is provided in this example. This example is different from Example 3 merely in that the feed of Example 1 includes 75 kg of the concentrate and 25 kg of the roughage.

[0091] Example 7

[0092] A fattening method for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle was provided. A fattening process was divided into an early stage, a middle stage, and a late stage. The early stage referred to the first and second months of a fattening period for the beef cattle, the middle stage referred to the third, fourth, and fifth months of the fattening period for the beef cattle, and the late stage referred to the sixth and seventh months of the fattening period for the beef cattle.

[0093] At the early stage, the feeding was conducted with the feed formula in Example 3 for 2 months (in the feed formula of Example 3, a ratio of the concentrate to the roughage was 50:50).

[0094] At the middle stage, the feeding was conducted with the feed formula in Example 5 for 3 months (in the feed formula of Example 5, a ratio of the concentrate to the roughage was 60:40).

[0095] At the late stage, the feeding was conducted with the feed formula in Example 6 for 2 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 months (in the feed formula of Example 6, a ratio of the concentrate to the roughage was 75:25).

[0096] Throughout the fattening method, amounts of the rumen-protected lysine and the rumen-protected methionine per beef cattle were 10 g / d and 20 g / d, respectively, an amount of the mineral nutrient-containing lick block per beef cattle was 100 g / d to 200 g / d, and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block was freely taken by beef cattle.

[0097] Comparative Example 7

[0098] This comparative example was different from Example 7 merely in that, in the feed formula of Example 3 fed at the early stage, the feed of Example 1 included 60 kg of the concentrate and 40 kg of the roughage.

[0099] Comparative Example 8

[0100] This comparative example was different from Example 7 merely in that, in the feed formula of Example 3 fed at the middle stage, the feed of Example 1 included 75 kg of the concentrate and 25 kg of the roughage.

[0101] Comparative Example 9

[0102] This comparative example was different from Example 7 merely in that, in the feed formula of Example 3 fed at the late stage, the low-cost feed included 90 kg of the concentrate and 10 kg of the roughage.

[0103] Example 8

[0104] 70 healthy Angus cattle at an age of 7.5 months were selected and randomly divided into an Example 7 group, an Example 3 group, an Example 5 group, an Example 6 group, a Comparative Example 7 group, a Comparative Example 8 group, and a Comparative Example 9 group, with 10 cattle in each group. The Angus cattle in the groups had similar initial body weights without significant differences. A feeding method for the Example 3 group, the Example 5 group, and the Example 6 group was as follows: feeding was conducted always with a corresponding feed formula. In the remaining groups, the feeding was conducted according to a corresponding fattening method. A 7 month beef cattle feeding test was conducted for effect evaluation. The growth performance (including a daily weight gain, an average daily feed intake, a feed conversion ratio, and a dressing percentage), the health status (including a rumen pH value), the meat quality of the longissimus dorsi (including a pH, a shear force, a meat brightness (meat color-L), a meat redness (meat color-a), a meat yellowness (meat color-b), and a drip loss), and the nutritional components were determined for different groups of Angus cattle.

[0105] As shown in Table 7, the staged feeding mode in Example 7 enables a daily weight gain of 1.24 kg that is significantly higher than daily weight gains of Examples 3, 5, and 6(P < 0.05), and Example 7 shows the lowest feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). It indicates that this staged feeding mode leads to the optimal production performance. It should be noted that Example 6 and Comparative Example 8 both achieve a rumen pH value of lower than 5.6, which is significantly 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 lower than rumen pH values of the other five groups. It can be known that ruminal acidosis occurs under these two fattening conditions, which severely affects the health statuses of animals. Additionally, the feed inputs, beef revenues, and net profits under different fattening methods were calculated. According to results, there is the highest net profit under the staged fattening of Example 7, which reaches 3,567 yuan. In conclusion, the fattening method in Example 7 exhibits the optimal production performance, growth performance, and health status and the highest economic benefit, and thus demonstrates a significant potential for promotion.

[0106] Table 7 Growth performance, production performance, health statuses, and economic benefits of Angus cattle under different fattening methods

[0107] Item Example 7 Example 3 Example 5 Example 6 Comparative Example 7 Comparative Example 8 Comparative Example 9 P value Daily weight gain (kg) 1.24 0.95 0.97 1.05 1.12 0.96 1.05 0.024 Average daily feed intake (kg) 9.02 9.54 9.45 9.38 9.20 9.30 9.54 0.068 Feed conversion ratio 7.45 10.04 9.74 9.20 8.21 9.69 9.09 0.015 Dressing percentage (%) 55.4 55.2 54.8 54.8 53.2 54.2 54.3 0.241 Rumen pH value 6.52 6.58 6.20 5.42 6.24 5.58 6.08 0.008 Feed input (yuan) 2925 2705 3016 3496 3077 3229 3240 - Beef revenue (yuan) 6492 4956 5023 5438 5631 4917 5388 - Net profit (yuan) 3567 2251 2007 1941 2554 1688 2148

[0108] Notes: The concentrate is at a price of 2,200 yuan / ton, and the roughage is at a price of 500 yuan / ton. A fattening period is 7 months. The beef is at a price of 45 yuan / kg.

[0109] Table 8 Qualities and nutritional components of meat from Angus cattle under different fattening methods

[0110] ___________________.__________________.__________________.__________________.________________.______________________.______________________.______________________ Item Example 7 Example 3 Example 5 Example 6 Comparative Example 7 Comparative Example 8 Comparative Example 9 P value pH 6.52 6.54 6.48 6.23 6.20 6.28 6.12 0.014 Shear force 8.4 9.2 9.2 11.2 10.5 11.1 10.2 0.018 Drip loss 0.48 0.52 0.65 0.86 0.78 0.86 0.74 0.045 Meat color-L 47.4 44.5 42.8 37.2 40.2 37.5 38.0 0.015 Meat color-a 25.4 24.3 24.5 18.9 20.1 19.2 18.9 0.043 Meat color-b 5.8 6.5 7.4 7.8 6.9 7.5 7.0 0.008 Moisture (%) 75.2 74.8 75.0 74.6 75.2 75.2 74.8 0.542 Crude protein (%) 26.5 23.7 22.8 22.8 23.6 24.2 23.1 0.032 Intramuscular fat (%) 2.68 2.35 2.29 2.20 2.23 1.97 2.13 0.042

[0111] As shown in Table 8, Examples 7, 3, and 5 have a significantly-higher muscle pH value than Example 6 and Comparative Examples 7, 8, and 9(P < 0.05), and Example 7 has a 2025204856   27 Jun 2025 significantly-smaller muscle shear force and drip loss than Example 6 and Comparative Examples 7, 8, and 9 (P < 0.05). Regarding the meat color, Examples 7 and 3 have significantly-larger L and a values than Example 6 and Comparative Examples 7, 8, and 9(P < 0.05), and Example 7 has the lowest yellowness. Analysis results of the nutritional components indicate that the crude protein and intramuscular fat contents of Example 7 are significantly higher than those of the other six groups (P < 0.05). It can be known accordingly that the fattening method in Example 7 can significantly enhance the quality of beef while improving the production performance.

[0112] In addition, the metabolomic analysis was conducted for muscle samples from Example 7 (treatment group) and Example 3 (control group) to analyze the mechanism by which the staged fattening mode improves the meat quality. As shown in FIG. 1, peaks extracted from test samples are subjected to PCA. PCA results reveal that there are significant differences in metabolite components and contents thereof between longissimus dorsi samples of the treatment group and the control group. A first principal component (PC1) accounts for 27.4% of the total variation, and the second principal component (PC2) accounts for 11.9% of the total variation, indicating a total contribution rate of 39.3%. As shown in FIG. 2, differential metabolites are subjected to pathway enrichment through the KEGG database, and 20 metabolic pathways significantly related to the beef quality are identified. Various metabolic pathways are related to lipid metabolism, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, a-linolenic acid metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, glyceride metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin digestion and absorption, and regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes. These findings collectively indicate that the staged fattening mode primarily enhances the beef quality by improving the lipid metabolism in muscles.

[0113] According to the above examples, the present disclosure provides a feed formula and fattening method for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle, and the feed formula and fattening method provided by the present disclosure can enhance the growth performance and beef quality of beef cattle.

[0114] The above are merely preferred implementations of the present disclosure. It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art may further make several improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present disclosure, but such improvements and modifications should be deemed as falling within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A feed for not compromising growth and production performance of beef cattle, comprising the following raw materials in parts by weight:50 parts to 75 parts of a concentrate and 50 parts to 25 parts of a roughage,wherein the concentrate comprises corn, a sprayed corn husk, a corn protein powder, corn Distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a soybean meal, a rapeseed meal, a palm kernel meal, a stone powder, and a premix in a weight ratio of 50:25:1.5:2.5:4:12.5:1.5:1:2; andthe roughage is a corn straw obtained after a crushing and rubbing process, and the corn straw obtained after the crushing and rubbing process has a length of 3 cm to 5 cm.

2. A feed formula for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle, comprising the feed according to claim 1, a rumen-protected amino acid, and a mineral nutrient-containing lick block.

3. The feed formula according to claim 2, wherein the rumen-protected amino acid comprises rumen-protected lysine and rumen-protected methionine, and a mass ratio of the rumen-protected lysine to the rumen-protected methionine is 1:2.

4. The feed formula according to claim 2, wherein the mineral nutrient-containing lick block comprises the following components: 10% of molasses, 66% of a salt, 10% of bentonite, 6% of quicklime, and 8% of a trace element premix.

5. The feed formula according to claim 4, wherein guaranteed values for trace elements per 1 kg of the mineral nutrient-containing lick block are as follows: iron: 2,800 mg, manganese: 2,000 mg, zinc: 1,200 mg, copper: 800 mg, iodine: 300 mg, cobalt: 80 mg, and selenium: 20 mg.

6. A fattening method for improving growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle, comprising: dividing a fattening process into an early stage, a middle stage, and a late stage; at the early stage, feeding with the feed formula according to claim 2 in which a weight ratio of the concentrate to the roughage is 50:50; at the middle stage, feeding with the feed formula according to claim 2 in which a weight ratio of the concentrate to the roughage is 60:40; and at the late stage, feeding with the feed formula according to claim 2 in which a weight ratio of the concentrate to the roughage is 75:25, wherein throughout the fattening process, an amount of the rumen-protected amino acid remains unchanged, and the mineral nutrient-containing lick block is available for free feeding.2025204856   27 Jun 20257. The fattening method according to claim 6, wherein the early stage refers to first and second months of a fattening period for the beef cattle; the middle stage refers to third, fourth, and fifth months of the fattening period for the beef cattle; and the late stage refers to sixth and seventh months of the fattening period for the beef cattle.

8. The fattening method according to claim 6, wherein amounts of the rumen-protected lysine and the rumen-protected methionine per beef cattle are 10 g / d and 20 g / d, respectively.

9. The fattening method according to claim 6, wherein an amount of the mineral nutrient-containing lick block per beef cattle is 100 g / d to 200 g / d.

10. The feed according to claim 1 or the feed formula according to any one of claims 2 to 5 or the fattening method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the beef cattle comprise Angus cattle.

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