The Study
Effect of beta-agonist type and timing of Experior feeding on calculated cumulative ammonia gas emissions, live growth performance, and carcass outcomes, and objective tenderness outcomes of feedlot steers
This study is like a fair test where they gave different kinds of feed to groups of cows and saw what happened — like if they got heavier or made less stinky gas. It tells us what happened in this test, but not why it happened or if it would work the same for people or other animals.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested a special feed additive called Experior that helps cows turn food into muscle instead of waste.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 521 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — this means more beef per cow with less pollution, but the meat might be less tender and lower quality grade if not timed right.
- 2Cows fed Experior grew 14–37 kg heavier, produced 5.6–13.6% less ammonia smell, had bigger muscle cuts, but less marbling (fat streaks) and tougher meat if given too close to slaughter.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Translational Animal Science
Year
2025
Authors
Wilsey M Wendler, Michael s Davis, Wally Koers, Phil Rincker, N. Pyatt, L. W. Lucherk, T. Lawrence
Related Content
Claims (6)
When feedlot steers are given lubabegron fumarate for the last 56 days before slaughter, their daily feed intake, sickness rates, death rates, and liver abscess rates are the same as those of steers not given any beta-agonist or ractopamine.
When feedlot steers are fed lubabegron fumarate during the last 56 days before slaughter, ammonia gas emissions per kilogram of body weight or carcass weight decrease by 5.6–13.6% compared to steers not receiving any beta-agonist, resulting in lower environmental emissions from feedlot operations.
When feedlot steers are fed lubabegron fumarate for the last 56 days before slaughter, their carcass weight increases by 14 to 37 kilograms compared to steers not given any beta-agonist, and this increase is not different from the weight gain seen with ractopamine hydrochloride.
When feedlot steers are given lubabegron fumarate for the last 56 days before slaughter, their loin muscle area becomes larger by 4.03–6.23 cm² and their marbling scores decrease by 14–39 points compared to steers not given the compound.
When feedlot steers are given lubabegron fumarate 14 days before slaughter during the last 56 days of feeding, their meat becomes 20.1% tougher as measured by slice shear force, compared to other dosing schedules.
Administering beta-agonists to cattle results in increased lean muscle mass and higher body weight by stimulating adrenergic pathways.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.