Steer performance on deferred pastures of  Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria decumbens

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to compare structural, morphological and bromatological characteristics of forage as well as performance of Caracu beef cattle (200 ± 9 kg of initial body weight) supplemented with a multi-mineral mixture (0.25% of body weight) on deferred pastures of Brachiaria brizantha 'Marandu' and Brachiaria decumbens 'Basilisk' under continuous grazing. After the pasture was grazed to 10 cm of height, in March 2014, both grasses were left to rest and subjected to a 126-day deferment period. The experimental period lasted from July to October 2014; the sward characteristics and the animal's weight were evaluated every 28 days. The highest forage mass was recorded in 'Marandu' grass, whereas the highest leaves percentage and lowest dead material percentage were observed in 'Basilisk' pastures. Similarly, the highest crude protein content (8.1 vs. 7.0 ± 0.2%), in vitro organic matter digestibility (57.7 vs. 53.9 ± 0.4%), lowest neutral detergent fiber content (69.2 vs. 72.7 ± 0.4%), and; consequently, the highest average daily gain (680 vs. 530 ± 0.04g animal-1) were recorded for 'Basilisk' pastures. 'Marandu' and 'Basilisk' deferment was associated with a multi-mineral mixture supplementation as a management alternative for rearing beef cattle during the drought periods. Because of the duration of the pasture recovery period in this study, B. decumbens pastures were more likely to achieve the highest animal performance.

Download Full-text

Supplementation with calcium salts of cottonseed oil improves performance of Bos indicus animals consuming finishing diets1

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txaa080 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 967-973

Author(s):

Marcos A A Carvalho ◽

Bruno I Cappellozza ◽

Bruna Silva ◽

Thais S Castro ◽

Marcos Renato Burim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Cottonseed Oil ◽

Feedlot Cattle ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Net Energy ◽

Calcium Salts

Abstract Lipid ingredients are often used into feedlot cattle diets, primarily to increase energy density and improve efficiency parameters of the herd. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of including calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA) and increasing levels of cottonseed byproducts into feedlot diets. On day 0 of the study, 96 Bos indicus bullocks were individually weighed twice and initial body weight (BW) was considered the average of both measurements (initial BW = 287 ± 22.4 kg). Bulls were ranked by initial BW, allocated into 1 of 12 feedlot pens (eight bulls per pen), and pens randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) inclusion of 15.0% [dry matter (DM) basis] of cottonseed byproducts into the finishing diet (CTS-15; n = 4), 2) inclusion of 22.0% (DM basis) of cottonseed byproducts into the finishing diet (CTS-22; n = 4), and 3) inclusion of 2.7% (DM basis) of CSFA of cottonseed oil into the finishing diet (CSFA; n = 4). The experimental period lasted 135 d and consisted of 5 d of preadaptation, 15 d of adaptation (ADP), 31 d of growing (GRO), and 84 d of finishing (FIN). Performance and carcass characteristics data were evaluated at the end of the experimental period. A treatment × period interaction was observed on total DM intake (DMI; P < 0.0001), given that no treatment differences were observed during ADP (P > 0.33), whereas CSFA-supplemented animals had a reduced DMI during GRO and FIN phases (P < 0.05). When individual mean nutrient intake was evaluated, CSFA supplementation caused a reduction in crude protein and physically effective neutral detergent fiber intake (P ≤ 0.05), and tended to reduce metabolizable energy, net energy for maintenance and gain intake (P = 0.06). Additionally, CSFA inclusion or CTS increase into the diet did not affect final BW, BW change, average daily gain (ADG), hot carcass weight, carcass ADG, and yield gain (P ≥ 0.11). On the other hand, CSFA reduced DMI as percentage of BW and improved feed efficiency (FE; P < 0.02) and also tended to improve biological conversion (BC; P = 0.07) versus CTS. Similarly, increasing CTS byproducts in the diet improved FE and BC (P = 0.02) but also tended to increase dressing percentage (DP; P = 0.08). In summary, including CSFA into feedlot diets reduced DMI but improved FE and BC of beef cattle, demonstrating the efficacy of this technology on feedlot beef cattle diets. Moreover, increasing cottonseed byproducts into the diets also benefited FE, BC, and DP of finishinw B. indicus cattle.

Download Full-text

67 Current Status and Future Prospective of the Use of Plant Bioactive Compounds in Dairy and Beef Cattle

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab054.222 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 132-132

Author(s):

Sergio Calsamiglia ◽

Maria Rodriguez-Prado ◽

Gonzalo Fernandez-Turren ◽

Lorena Castillejos

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Rumen Fermentation ◽

Production Performance ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Current Status ◽

The Impact

Abstract In the last 20 years there has been extensive in vitro research on the effects of plant extracts and essential oils on rumen microbial fermentation. The main objectives have been to improve energy metabolism through a reduction in methane emissions and an increase in propionate production; and to improve protein metabolism by reducing proteolysis and deamination. While the positive results from in vitro studies has stimulated the release of commercial products based on blends of essential oils, there is limited in vivo evidence on the rumen fermentation and production performance effects. A literature search was conducted to select in vivo studies where information on rumen fermentation and animal performance was reported. For dairy cattle, we identified 37 studies of which 21 were adequate to test production performance. Ten studies reported increases and 3 decreases in milk yield. For beef cattle, we identified 20 studies with rumen fermentation profile and 22 with performance data. Average daily gain improved in 7 and decreased in 1 study. Only 1 out of 16 studies reported an improvement in feed efficiency. Data indicate that out of more than 500 products tested in vitro, only around 20 have been tested in vivo in different mixtures and doses. The use of statistical approaches will allow to describe the conditions, doses and responses in dairy and beef cattle performance. The search for postruminal effects offers another alternative use. Evidence for effects on the intestinal and systemic effects on the immune system and antioxidant status (i.e., capsicum, garlic, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde curcuma, catechins, anethol or pinene), and in the modulation of metabolic regulation (capsicum, cinnamaldehyde, curcuma or garlic) may open the opportunity for future applications. However, stability of the product in the GI tract, description of the mechanisms of action and the impact of these changes on performance needs to be further demonstrated.

Download Full-text

Body composition and net and dietary macrominerals requirements of Nellore steers under grazing

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/s1516-35982009000600016 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 1081-1087 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Vitor Visintin Silva de Almeida ◽

Augusto César de Queiroz ◽

Robério Rodrigues Silva ◽

Fabiano Ferreira da Silva ◽

Aline Cardoso Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Reference Group ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

The Body ◽

Regression Equations ◽

Animal Body ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Dietary Requirements ◽

Mineral Mixture ◽

Daily Gain

This experiment was carried out with the objective of determining the macrominerals (Ca, P, Mg, K and Na) requirements of Nellore steers under grazing. Twenty four Nellore steers (371 ± 14 kg of BW and 26 mo old) were used. Four steers were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment (reference group), serving as a reference in subsequent study. The remaining 20 animals were weighed and distributed into a completely randomized design with four supplementation levels offer: 0.0 (mineral mixture - control), 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9% of BW, with five replications. The supplements, based on ground corn, soybean meal and/or urea, were previously balanced to achieve an average daily gain of 350, 650 and 850g, respectively, for the different supplementation levels offer. The contents of macrominerals retained in the animal body were determined by regression equations of the macrominerals body content logarithm in function of the empty body weight logarithm (EBW). Net macrominerals requirements for a gain of 1kg of EBW were obtained using the equation Y'= b.10ª.Xb-1, with a and b, respectively, the intercept and the regression coefficient of the prediction equations of macrominerals in the animal body contents for each macromineral considered. The concentrations of all macrominerals, in the empty body weight and gain of the empty body weight, decreased with the increase in the body weight. Total calcium and phosphorus dietary requirements are higher than those recommended in the literature.

Download Full-text

Corn or soybean hull incorporation into haylage-based backgrounding beef cattle diets: Effect on growth and efficiency during the backgrounding and finishing periods

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas06052 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 87 (4) ◽

pp. 615-621 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. C. Swanson ◽

M. Ko ◽

C. J. Mader

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Soybean Hulls ◽

Feedlot Performance ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Plasma Urea ◽

Soybean Hull ◽

Daily Gain

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of corn or soybean hull incorporation into haylage-based diets on backgrounding calf performance and subsequent feedlot performance. Crossbred steers [n = 48, initial body weight (BW) = 303 ± 3.4 kg] were individually fed dietary treatments consisting of: (1) haylage [17.5% crude protein, dry matter (DM) basis; control], (2) haylage + 20% (DM basis) cracked corn, and (3) haylage + 20% (DM basis) soybean hulls during a 112-d backgrounding period. After the backgrounding period, all steers were adapted to a common high moisture corn-based finishing diet and fed until an ultrasound estimated backfat thickness of 7 mm was obtained. During the backgrounding period, steers fed cracked corn or soybean hulls had greater (P < 0.01) average daily gain, dry matter intake and gain:feed and lower (P = 0.05) plasma urea N as compared with controls. However, when finished on a common high-concentrate diet, steers previously fed cracked corn had greater (P < 0.08) average daily gain, final body weight, and longissimus muscle area than those fed soybean hulls, suggesting that source of supplemental energy during the backgrounding period may influence subsequent feedlot performance. Key words: Beef cattle, backgrounding, energy supplementation

Download Full-text

The Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Black Baladi Kids Fed Diets with Graded Quantities of Sweet Lupin Grain (Lupinus angustifolius)

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci9010020 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 20

Author(s):

Belal S. Obeidat

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Acid Detergent Fiber ◽

Diet Cost ◽

Daily Gain

A study was conducted to examine how lupin grains (LUPs) feeding affected nutritional intake, digestibility, growth, and carcass characteristics in kids. A total of 24 growing black kids (initial body weight (BW) = 16.4 ± 0.49 kg) were allocated to one of three diets at random. Lupin was included in the diet at a rate of 0 (control; CON), 100 (LUP100), or 200 g/kg (LUP200) of total dry matter (DM). The trial lasted for 91 days divided into 7 and 84 days to be used for adaptation and data collection, respectively. Feed intake was evaluated daily throughout the study. At the commencement and the end of the study, each kid’s body weight was measured to determine its average daily gain (ADG). On day 70, 5 kids were chosen at random from each group to investigate nutrient in vivo digestibility and N balance. At the end of the study, all of the kids were slaughtered to examine carcass features. Nutrient intakes (neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and ether extract) were higher (p ≤ 0.01) in LUP-containing diets than in the CON diet. The average daily gain was greater (p ≤ 0.03) in diets containing lupin grains than in the CON diet. Cost of gain ($US/kg growth) was lower (p = 0.004) in kids fed diets containing lupin than the CON diet. Dry matter and CP digestibility rates were greater (p ≤ 0.03) in lupin diets. Retained N was higher (p = 0.04) in lupin-containing diets than in the CON diet. Cold carcass weight was higher (p < 0.05) for kids consuming the LUP100 diet than the CON diet. In lupin diets, carcass cut weights were higher (p < 0.05). Results of the current study indicate that feeding black kids diets containing lupin grains at 100 or 200 g/kg DM basis is cost effective and would increase profitability.

Download Full-text

Carcass characteristics of purebred and crossbred Nellore females fed solely pasture

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n6p4213 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 4213

Author(s):

Thiago Martins Pivaro ◽

Wignez Henrique ◽

Emanuel Almeida Oliveira ◽

José Luiz Viana Coutinho Filho ◽

Roberto Molinari Peres ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Meat Industry ◽

Brachiaria Brizantha ◽

Brachiaria Decumbens ◽

Higher Weights

This research aimed to compare carcasses of purebred and crossbred Nellore females reared uniquely on pasture (Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu). Breeds assessed consisted of purebred Nellore (16) and Nellore x Santa Gertrudis crossbred (16), being 32 ± 1.5 months old. All animals were slaughtered as they reached 450 kg. Crossbred females showed higher slaughter, hot and cold carcass weights and longer lengths (P < 0.05). Conversely, purebred animals attained greater carcass yields (P < 0.05). Nonetheless, crossbred females had higher primal cut weights and plate/ flank percentage (P < 0.05). Also, non-carcass components as kidneys, liver, kidney-pelvic-heart fat showed higher weights for crossbred females (P < 0.05). Thus, regarding beef cattle reared and finished exclusively on grazing areas, crossbred females (Nellore x Santa Gertrudis) may be the most profitable ones for cattle raisers, since they produce heavier slaughtering carcasses. Notwithstanding, they might be interesting for meat industry, for yielding more in prime cuts than purebreds, even if raised at the same conditions and slaughtered at same age.

Download Full-text

Use of barley or corn silage when fed with barley, corn, or a blend of barley and corn on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txz168 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 129-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jordan A Johnson ◽

Brittney D Sutherland ◽

John J McKinnon ◽

Tim A McAllister ◽

Gregory B Penner

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Liver Abscesses ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the source of silage, cereal grain, and their interaction on growth performance, digestibility, and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle. Using a completely randomized design within an 89-d finishing study, 288 steers were randomly assigned to 1 of 24 pens (12 steers/pen) with average steer body weight (BW) within a pen of 464 kg ± 1.7 kg (mean ± SD). Diets were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with corn silage (CS) or barley silage (BS) included at 8% (dry matter [DM] basis). Within each silage source, diets contained dry-rolled barley grain (BG; 86% of DM), dry-rolled corn grain (CG; 85% of DM), or an equal blend of BG and CG (BCG; 85% of DM). Total tract digestibility of nutrients was estimated from fecal samples using near-infrared spectroscopy. Data were analyzed with pen as the experimental unit using the Mixed Model of SAS with the fixed effects of silage, grain, and the two-way interaction. Carcass and fecal kernel data were analyzed using GLIMMIX utilizing the same model. There were no interactions detected between silage and grain source. Feeding CG increased (P < 0.01) DM intake by 0.8 and 0.6 kg/d relative to BG and BCG, respectively. Gain-to-feed ratio was greater (P = 0.04) for BG (0.172 kg/kg) than CG (0.162 kg/kg) but did not differ from BCG (0.165 kg/kg). Furthermore, average daily gain (2.07 kg/d) and final body weight did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.25). Hot carcass weight (HCW) was 6.2 kg greater (372.2 vs. 366.0 kg; P < 0.01) and dressing percentage was 0.57 percentage units greater (59.53 vs. 58.96 %; P = 0.04) for steers fed CS than BS, respectively. There was no effect of dietary treatment on the severity of liver abscesses (P ≥ 0.20) with 72.0% of carcasses having clear livers, 24.4% with minor liver abscesses, and 3.6% with severe liver abscesses. Digestibility of DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and starch were greater for BG (P < 0.01) than CG or BCG. As expected, grain source affected the appearance of grain kernels in the feces (P ≤ 0.04). Feeding CS silage increased the appearance of fractured corn kernels (P = 0.04), while feeding BS increased fiber appearance in the feces (P = 0.02). Current results indicate that when dry rolled, feeding BG resulted in improved performance and digestibility compared with CG and BCG. Even at low inclusion levels (8% of DM), CS resulted in improved carcass characteristics relative to BS.

Download Full-text

Maniçoba hay or silage replaces Tifton 85 hay in spineless cactus diets for sheep

Acta Scientiarum Animal Sciences ◽

10.4025/actascianimsci.v41i1.42553 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 42553 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michel Do Vale Maciel ◽

Francisco Fernando Ramos de Carvalho ◽

Ângela Maria Vieira Batista ◽

Evaristo Jorge Oliveira de Souza ◽

Laura Priscila Araújo Amaro Maciel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Fiber Intake ◽

Initial Body Weight ◽

Total Carbohydrates ◽

Manihot Glaziovii ◽

And Performance ◽

Daily Gain

The aim of this study was to evaluate the replacement of Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.) by maniçoba hay or silage (Manihot glaziovii Muell. Arg) on sheep intake and performance. Twenty-four male Santa Ines animals were used, with initial body weight of 19.77 ± 1.95 kg and average age of 160 days. The animals were distributed in three treatments (Tifton 85 hay-TH, Maniçoba hay-MH and Maniçoba silage-MS), arranged in a randomized blocks design, with 8 replicates per treatment. The feedlot period lasted for 71 days. The means of the variables were tested by Tukey’s test at 5% probability. Sheep fed MH presented higher dry matter intake (p > 0.05) than those fed TH (1.17 kg day-1 vs 1.06 kg day-1). Neutral detergent fiber intake was higher (p > 0.05) for MH-fed sheep (0.394 kg day-1) when compared to MS (0.340 kg day-1). The digestibility of total carbohydrates was higher (p > 0.05) for MH diet (0.71 g kg-1) than TH (0.67 g kg-1). The average daily gain and body weight at slaughter did not differ (p > 0.05) among treatments. Maniçoba hay or silage can replace Tifton 85 hay in sheep diets.

Download Full-text

EFFECT OF COLLECTION INTERVAL ON NUTRIENT DIGESTION DETERMINED WITHIN THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF BEEF CATTLE

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas87-123 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 67 (4) ◽

pp. 1149-1153 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

I. B. MANDELL ◽

G. I. CHRISTISON ◽

H. H. NICHOLSON

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Small Intestine ◽

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Barley Grain ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Acid Detergent Lignin ◽

Nutrient Digestion

Duodenal digesta, ileal digesta, and feces were collected from steers fed diets containing 50% barley grain, 50% brome-alfalfa hay. These were composited over days 1–3, 4–6 and 1–6 of each experimental period. Acid detergent lignin and chromic oxide were used as digestibility markers. Three- or six-day collection intervals did not affect the estimate of organic matter digestion in the forestomach, small or large intestine, and total tract. Differences (P < 0.05) in estimates of nutrient digestion between 3-d collection periods occurred for neutral detergent fiber in the forestomach and crude protein in the small intestine. Key words: Collection interval, partitioning of digestibility, markers, cattle, gastrointestinal tract

Download Full-text

Effects of active dry yeast on growth performance, rumen fermentation characteristics and slaughter performance in beef cattle

10.1101/784082 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Siqiang Liu ◽

Mei Yuan ◽

Kun Kang ◽

Zhisheng Wang ◽

Lizhi Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Control Group ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Slaughter Performance ◽

Active Dry Yeast

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the effects of active dry yeast (ADY) on rumen microbial composition and slaughter performance of beef cattle. Thirty-two finishing beef cattle (simmental crossbred cattle ♂ × cattle-yaks ♀), with an average body weight of 110 ± 12.85 kg, were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: the low plane of nutrition group (Control), low plane of nutrition group + ADY 2 g/head/d (ADY2), low plane of nutrition group + ADY 4 g/head/d (ADY4) and high plane of nutrition group (HPN). ADY supplementation increased average daily gain (P<0.001), and the carcass weight of ADY4 group had no significant difference with HPN group (P>0.05). The serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activity in control and ADY4 group was higher than HPN group (P=0.001). The neutral detergent fiber (P=0.022) and acid detergent fiber (P=0.043) digestibility in HPN group was greater than control, but no difference was obtained among ADY2, ADY4 and HPN group (P>0.05). The rumen ammonium nitrogen content in control was greater than ADY2 and ADY4 group (P=0.003), and no difference was obtained ADY2, ADY4 and HPN group (P>0.05). The propionic acid content in the rumen in ADY2, ADY4, and HPN group were greater than control group (P<0.001). The simpson (P=0.014) and shannon (P=0.045) indexes in control and HPN group were greater than ADY4 group. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the HPN group was higher than ADY4 group (P=0.015). At the genus level, HPN and ADY4 were clustered together, and the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae UCG-002 in ADY4 group was higher than control and HPN group (P=0.004). In conclusion, supplementation ADY 4 g/head/d shift the rumen microbial composition of beef cattle fed low plane of nutrition to a more similar level with cattle fed with HPN diet, produced comparable carcass weight with HPN diet.

Download Full-text