Method for improving meat quality

A swine feed diet, comprising:

• an amount of nitrate effective for increasing the red color of meat obtained from the swine when fed during one or more of a post-weaning phase, growth phase, finishing phase, or combinations thereof of the swine;
• and
• the feed diet further comprises:
• 1.090-1.658 wt % Limestone;
• 0.002-0.027 wt % L-Threonine;
• 0.207-0.349 wt % L-Lysine HCl;
• 0.114-0.829 wt % Monocalcium Phosphate;
• 0.286-0.385 wt % Salt;
• 40.133-42.950 wt % Corn—Fine Ground;
• 1.000 wt % Sugarcane Molasses<47.5%;
• 6.500-21.542 wt % Soybean Meal—48% Protein;
• 1.000-1.140 wt % Fat—Animal Blend;
• 7.500-20.000 wt % Corn DDGS;
• and
• 20.000 wt % Wheat—Ground 8-14% NDF;
• wherein the amount of nitrate is from 0.01 to 0.07%.