THE EFFECTS ON THE ODOUR AND FLAVOUR OF THE MEAT OF FEEDING REFUSE SCREENINGS WITH A HIGH STINKWEED (THLASPI ARVENSE L.) CONTENT TO FATTENING CATTLE

Two experiments, (one at Vancouver, British Columbia, and one at the Experimental Farm, Lethbridge, Alberta), involving 44 yearling steers, were conducted to determine whether feeding refuse screenings with a high proportion of stinkweed seeds to fattening beef cattle would result in objectionable odours or off-flavours in the meat. Nine of 12 steers slaughtered immediately off screenings had a slight to strong objectionable odour in their carcasses. There were no objectionable odours in the carcasses of animals that were held off screenings for 24, 48, or 96 hours before slaughter. Two animals slaughtered immediately off screenings, and one animal held off screenings for 48 hours before slaughter had off-flavours in the meat when cooked.