Abstract
Thirty-six half-sibling yearling Angus bulls [256 ± 8 d; initial BW = 320 ± 2 kg] were assigned one of three diets: 1) 60% concentrate as corn (CON; n = 12); 2) 60% DDGS (60DDGS; n = 12); 3) CON diet + equivalent sulfur of 60DDGS as CaSO4 (SULF; n = 12) to evaluate effects of feeding 60% DDGS or sulfur as CaSO4 on trace mineral (TM) concentrations in serum and seminal plasma. Bulls were fed in Calan gates for 112 days and targeted to gain 1.6 kg/d. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using PROC MIXED in SAS. In serum, treatment × day interactions were observed (P ≤ 0.03) for Cu, Se, and Mo. For Cu, no differences (P > 0.15) were observed at d 0 or 56, but at d 112, 60DDGS was reduced (P < 0.01) compared with SULF and CON. At d 0, no differences (P > 0.09) were observed for Se; however, at d 56 and 112, 60DDGS was greater (P < 0.01) than CON and SULF. For Mo, at d 0, 60DDGS was greater (P = 0.03) than CON, whereas SULF was intermediate, but at d 56 and 112, CON was greater (P < 0.01) than SULF and 60DDGS. In seminal plasma, treatment × day interactions were observed (P ≤ 0.02) for Cu and Mo. For Cu, no differences (P ≥ 0.09) were observed at d 0 or 56, but at d 112, CON and 60DDGS were greater (P < 0.01) compared with SULF. For Mo, at d 0, 60DDGS was greater (P = 0.03) than SULF, whereas CON was intermediate, but on d 56 and 112, CON was greater (P < 0.01) than 60DDGS and SULF. Differences observed for TM may have influenced enzyme activity and semen kinematics which were previously reported.
Oh half-brother, where art thou? The boundaries of full- and half-sibling interaction
