scholarly journals A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Slow-Release Urea Supplementation on the Performance of Beef Cattle

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 657
Author(s):  
Saheed A. Salami ◽  
Colm A. Moran ◽  
Helen E. Warren ◽  
Jules Taylor-Pickard
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Protein Nitrogen ◽  
Finishing Cattle ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Slow Release Urea ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle

Slow-release urea (SRU) is a coated non-protein nitrogen (NPN) source for ruminant nutrition. This study applied a meta-analytic technique to quantify the effect of a commercial SRU (Optigen®, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY, USA) on the performance of beef cattle. Data were extracted from 17 experiments and analysed using the random-effects model to estimate the effect size of SRU on dry matter intake (DMI), crude protein intake (CPI), live weight gain (LWG) and feed efficiency (FE) of growing and finishing beef cattle. There was no effect of feeding SRU on the overall DMI and CPI of beef cattle. Dietary inclusion of SRU improved the overall LWG (+92 g/d/head) and FE (+12 g LWG/kg DMI/head) of beef cattle. Notably, SRU supplementation in growing cattle exhibited a better improvement on LWG (130 vs. 60 g/d/head) and FE (18 vs. 8 g LWG/kg DMI/head) compared with finishing cattle. Moreover, SRU showed consistent improvements on the LWG and FE of beef cattle under several study factors. Simulation analysis indicated that positive effects of SRU on LWG and FE improved profitability through reduction in feed cost and reduced the emission intensity of beef production. These results indicate that SRU is a sustainable NPN solution in beef cattle production.

Comparison of the effects of slow-release urea vs conventional urea supplementation on some finishing cattle parameters: A meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 104549
Author(s):  
Rangel Fernandes Pacheco ◽  
Diego Soares Machado ◽  
Alexandra Fabielle Pereira Viana ◽  
Jullia Sehorek Teixeira ◽  
Lucas Milani
Keyword(s):  
Slow Release ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Finishing Cattle ◽  
Slow Release Urea

scholarly journals Comparison between conventional urea and slow-release urea on concentration of ammonia in the rumen: A meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 902 (1) ◽  
pp. 012034
Author(s):  
S Nayohan ◽  
I Susanto ◽  
K G Wiryawan ◽  
A Jayanegara
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Protein Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Intake ◽  
Slow Release Urea ◽  
Better Than

Abstract Urea is a source of Non-Protein Nitrogen (NPN). The utilization of urea in the ration is useful for increasing digestibility, dry matter intake, and increasing protein content. This study aims to compare the utilization of conventional urea and Slow Release Urea (SRU) to reduce ammonia concentration by in vivo study using meta-analysis. A total of 13 studies were obtained that consisted of 41 data points. The parameters in this study include pH, Dry Matter Intake (DMI), Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA), ammonia concentration, and nitrogen intake. The database compiled was statistically analyzed using a mixed model method. Different studies were considered as random effects, and the level of urea was treated as fixed effects. The model statistics used were the p-values and the Akaike information criterion. The significance of an effect was stated when its p-value was <0.05. The results revealed that level SRU and conventional urea had a significant linear effect on ammonia concentration, DMI, VFA, pH and nitrogen intake. However, the effect of giving SRU was better than conventional urea. It can be concluded that SRU can control ammonia concentration, DMI, VFA, pH and nitrogen intake better than urea.

A comparison of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for finishing beef cattle

1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Crude Fibre ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Soya Bean Meal ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle

AbstractTwo randomized-block experiments were carried out to examine the relative value of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for finishing beef cattle. In each experiment unwilted, formic acid-treated silage was offered ad libitum and supplemented with 500 g soya-bean meal and 50 g minerals and vitamins to 44 12-month-old bulls for 157 and 172 days in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. Twelve of the animals also received 2·5 kg rolled spring barley (LB), 12 received 4·0 kg barley (HB) and 20 received 3·25 kg rolled wheat (W). For experiments 1 and 2 respectively the barley contained 796 and 787 g dry matter (DM) per kg; 118 and 105 g crude protein (CP) per kg DM; 47 and 57 g crude fibre per kg DM; the wheat contained 845 and 800 g DM per kg; 112 and 116 g CP per kg DM; 23 and 25 g crude fibre per kg DM; and the silages contained 190 and 177 g DM per kg; 153 and 176 g CP per kg DM; 80 and 104 g ammonia-nitrogen per kg total nitrogen. On average over the two experiments, for treatments LB, HB and W respectively, silage DM intakes were 5·4, 4·7 (s.e. 0·14) and 4·9 (s.e. 0·11) kg/day; total DM intakes 7·9, 8·3 (s.e. 0·14) and 8·1 (s.e. 0·11) kg/day; metabolizable energy intakes 91·4, 97·8 and 94·2 MJ/day; live-weight gains 1·04,1·19 (s.e. 0·029) and 1·10 (s.e. 0·023) kg/day and carcass gams 0·65, 0·77 (s.e. 0·017) and 0·70 (s.e. 0·013) kg/day. It is concluded that the feeding value of wheat was proportionately 0·98 of that of barley for finishing beef cattle when given as a supplement to grass silage, and that the type of cereal offered did not affect silage intake or carcass composition.

scholarly journals A comparison of liveweight gain of two groups of weaners of different entry liveweight in an ad libitum fodder beet feeding system for finishing beef cattle

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 23-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.J. Gibbs ◽  
B. Saldias ◽  
J. White ◽  
D. Walsh ◽  
N. Stocker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Feeding System ◽  
Finishing Cattle ◽  
Fodder Beet ◽  
Group A ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Group B ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle

The use of fodder beet as the primary diet for finishing beef cattle is a recent New Zealand innovation. A system using ad libitum grazed fodder beet through autumn and winter to finish spring-born steers between 12 and 18 months old was developed. Fodder beet is a high energy yet comparatively low protein content feed, and the fodder beet system requires high liveweight gains on the crop and an early slaughter age for cost effective production. Lower liveweight weaners have a greater protein requirement for optimal weight gain, and the threshold entry liveweight for satisfactory performance in this feeding system was not yet established. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of the entry liveweight of weaners on liveweight gain in the fodder beet feeding system. A group of 392 rising 1-year-old beef cattle fed using this system were divided at entry into three groups on unfasted liveweight (kg): A, 290-370; B, 240-260; and the remaining animals. The heaviest (group A: steer n=67, 316 ±2.7 kg; heifer n=45, 312 ±2.5 kg) and lightest (group B: steer n=77, 249 ±0.7 kg; heifer n=19, 251 ±1.0 kg) groups were then treated identically on ad libitum fodder beet to compare liveweight gain across 130 days on crop. The mean liveweight daily gain (kg/ day) for group A was significantly greater than group B, and greater for the steers compared to heifers in group A (0.98 and 0.85), but not in group B (0.82 and 0.81). Mean liveweight gain as a proportion of entry liveweight was greater in group B, and greater in steers. Both mean daily liveweight gain and mean liveweight gain as a proportion of entry liveweight were positively correlated with entry liveweight, but the R2 of both was low (0.14 and 0.05, respectively). Mean daily liveweight gain values of this magnitude are greater than those previously reported for alternative winter crops, and satisfactory for finishing beef cattle in this system. This study suggests the use of beef cattle above 240 kg liveweight as weaners in this fodder beet feeding system, both steers and heifers, is satisfactory for achieving acceptable slaughter liveweight before 18 months old. Keywords: beef production, fodder beet, finishing cattle, ad libitum fodder beet intakes.

A comparison of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for beef cattle

1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Beef Breed ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
Soyabean Meal ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle

Two randomised-block experiments have been carried out to examine the relative feeding value of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for finishing beef cattle. In each experiment unwilted, formic acid-treated silage was offered ad libitum and supplemented with 500 g soyabean meal and 50 g minerals and vitamins to 44 twelve month old bulls for 157 and 172 days in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. In addition 12 animals received 2.5 kg rolled spring barley (LB), 12 received 4.0 kg barley (HB) and 20 received 3.25 kg rolled wheat (W). Silage was offered once daily and concentrates twice daily in two equal meals.Eleven British Friesian bulls and thirty-three bulls which were Friesian x Continental beef breed were used in each experiment. They were initially 402 and 385 kg live weight in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. In both experiments the animals were housed and fed in groups of four in slatted pens. All animals were slaughtered at the end of the experiments to obtain carcass data.

Intake, growth rate and carcass quality of beef cattle fed maize silage harvested at three stages of maturity

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 83-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.M. Browne ◽  
M.J. Bryant ◽  
D.E. Beever
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Quality ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Forage Maize ◽  
Significant Depression ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle ◽  
Crop Maturity

Crop maturity at harvest affects the intake potential of maize silage. A short feeding trial with young beef heifers (Browne, Bryant, Beever and Thorp, 1998) identified a significant depression in intake when low DM silage was fed, yet no significant effect on live weight gain was recorded. The objective of this experiment was to determine if these results were repeated in a longer intake study using finishing beef cattle and to examine the effect of maize maturity on carcass quality.Forage maize was harvested at three stages of maturity (LOW, MED and HIGH) during September 1997. At each stage of maturity, the crop was cut and ensiled in a separate AgBag during one day, without the use of an additive. The respective silage DM concentrations were 297, 339 and 393 g/kgFWt.

scholarly journals Soybean meal replaced by slow release urea in finishing diets for beef cattle

2014 ◽  
Vol 165 ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.D.B. Benedeti ◽  
P.V.R. Paulino ◽  
M.I. Marcondes ◽  
S.C. Valadares Filho ◽  
T.S. Martins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Soybean Meal ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Finishing Diets ◽  
Slow Release Urea

scholarly journals Performance of finishing beef cattle fed different diets containing whole-crop maize silage or sugarcane silage

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 682-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliano Roman ◽  
Clóves Cabreira Jobim ◽  
Flávio Dutra de Resende ◽  
Gustavo Rezende Siqueira ◽  
Marcelo Henrique de Faria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat Thickness ◽  
Fat Thickness ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle ◽  
Daily Gain

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the performance of beef cattle in feedlots fed diets containing either whole-crop maize silage or sugarcane silage, and with different formulations. Five diets were evaluated: MSF - diet containing whole-crop maize silage, with fixed formulation during feedlot period; MSV- diet containing whole-crop maize silage, with variable formulation according to feedlot phase; SCSF - diet containing sugarcane silage with fixed formulation; SCSV- diet containing sugarcane silage, with variable formulation; SCSV/MSV- SCSV diet in initial half of fedlot and MSV diet in final half of feedlot period, respectively. It was used a complete random experimental design, with five treatments and three replicates (pens). It was used 285 steers at 36 months of age, with an initial body weight of 362.4 kg. Diets with whole-crop maize silage promoted greater intake of dry matter (10.5 kg and 2.4% BW) compared with diets containing sugarcane silage (10.1 kg and 2.3% BW). There was no effect of the silages on average daily gain (1.348 kg/animal/day) and live weight at slaughter (481.2 kg BW). SCSV/MSV diet promoted the worst feed conversion (8.0 kg DM/kg BW). Animals fed diets composed of whole-crop maize silage presented greater weight of hot carcass, of carcass yield and subcutaneous fat thickness (262.1 kg, 54.1% and 6.2 mm) compared with the animals fed sugarcane silage (252.5 kg, 52.7% and 4.8 mm). The use of sugarcane silage in diets for finishing beef cattle is feasible and the adjustment of formulation during confinement period does not influence performance of the animals. Replacement of sugarcane silage by whole-crop maize silage during the feeding period affects negatively feed conversion.

scholarly journals Slow-Release Urea as a Sustainable Alternative to Soybean Meal in Ruminant Nutrition

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2464
Author(s):  
Saheed A. Salami ◽  
Maria Devant ◽  
Juha Apajalahti ◽  
Vaughn Holder ◽  
Sini Salomaa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Soybean Meal ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Vegetable Protein ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Protein Sources ◽  
Slow Release Urea ◽  
In Vitro Rumen Fermentation

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using a commercial slow-release urea product (SRU; Optigen®, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY, USA) as a partial replacement for vegetable protein sources in cattle diets. The first experiment was an in vitro rumen fermentation that evaluated the effect of replacing soybean meal (SBM) nitrogen with nitrogen from either SRU or free urea in diets varying in forage:concentrate ratios. The second experiment examined the effect of replacing SBM with SRU on in situ dry matter and nitrogen degradability in the rumen. In the third experiment, a feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing SBM (0% as-fed SRU) with 1% or 3% as-fed SRU on feed carbon footprint (CFP; total greenhouse gas emissions associated with the life cycle of feed raw materials) and the toxicity potential of SRU in growing beef cattle. Results showed that replacing SBM with SRU up to 1.3% did not negatively affect in vitro rumen fermentation parameters. Supplementing SRU favourably decreased ruminal accumulation of ammonia and lactic acid when compared to free urea. There was no significant effect on effective rumen degradability of dry matter and nitrogen when one-third of SBM was replaced by SRU in the in situ study. Compared with the 0% SRU diet, feed CFP decreased by 18% and 54% in 1% SRU and 3% SRU diets, respectively. Additionally, feeding up to 3% SRU diet to beef cattle did not affect health and intake, and blood hematological and biochemical indices were within the physiological range for healthy bulls, suggesting no indication of ammonia toxicity. Overall, these results indicate that SRU can be used as a sustainable alternative to partially replace vegetable protein sources in ruminant diets without compromising rumen function and health of ruminants.

scholarly journals Meta-analysis and sustainability of feeding slow-release urea in dairy production

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246922
Author(s):  
Saheed A. Salami ◽  
Colm A. Moran ◽  
Helen E. Warren ◽  
Jules Taylor-Pickard
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Dairy Production ◽  
Slow Release Urea ◽  
The Impact

Slow-release urea (SRU) is a coated non-protein nitrogen (NPN) source for providing rumen degradable protein in ruminant nutrition. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing vegetable protein sources with SRU (Optigen®, Alltech Inc., USA) on the production performance of dairy cows. Additionally, the impact of SRU supplementation on dairy sustainability was examined by quantifying the carbon footprint (CFP) of feed use for milk production and manure nitrogen (N) excretion of dairy cows. Data on diet composition and performance variables were extracted from 17 experiments with 44 dietary comparisons (control vs. SRU). A linear mixed model and linear regression were applied to statistically analyse the effect of SRU on feed intake and production performance. Feeding SRU decreased (P < 0.05) dry matter intake (DMI, -500 g/d) and N intake (NI, -20 g/d). There was no significant effect (P > 0.05) on milk yield, fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, and milk fat and protein composition. However, SRU supplementation improved (P < 0.05) feed efficiency (+3%) and N use efficiency (NUE, +4%). Regression analyses revealed that increasing SRU inclusion level decreased DMI and NI whereas increasing dietary crude protein (CP) increased both parameters. However, milk yield and feed efficiency increased in response to increasing levels of SRU inclusion and dietary CP. The NUE had a positive relationship with SRU level whereas NUE decreased with increasing dietary CP. The inclusion of SRU in dairy diets reduced the CFP of feed use for milk production (-14.5%; 373.13 vs. 319.15 g CO2 equivalent/kg milk). Moreover, feeding SRU decreased manure N excretion by 2.7% to 3.1% (-12 to -13 g/cow/d) and N excretion intensity by 3.6% to 4.0% (-0.50 to -0.53 g N/kg milk). In conclusion, feeding SRU can contribute to sustainable dairy production through improvement in production efficiency and reduction in environmental impacts.

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