Characterization of ruminal microbial community related to strategies to improve feed efficiency of Nellore and Angus cattle during feedlot adaptation and finishing

• Grant number: 19/03025-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2019
• End date: April 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Danilo Domingues Millen
• Grantee: Danilo Domingues Millen
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Dracena. Dracena , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Cyntia Ludovico Martins ; Garret Suen ; Mário de Beni Arrigoni ; Paulo Henrique Mazza Rodrigues

Abstract

In this project, two studies will be proposed. The objective of the first study is to evaluate the effect of different nutritional strategies during the adaptation and finishing periods on ruminal fermentation patterns and microbial community of cannulated Angus and Nellore cattle. Four 30-mo-old Nellore and four 30-mo-old Angus steers will be used, with initial body weight of approximately 450 kg, which will be divided into two 4 x 4 Latin squares, where each square will be composed by animals of same breed. The diets provided will differ only with respect to the corn grain processing method and the presence or absence of sodium monensin. The treatments will be as follows: T1) Finely ground corn + monensin (27 ppm); T2) Finely ground corn T3) High moisture corn + monensin (27 ppm) and T4) High moisture corn. The study will last 168 days. Rumen pH will be monitored through data loggers and the ruminal microbial community will be characterized. The ruminal fermentation pattern and nutrients disappearance will also be evaluated. All variables will be measured during adaptation and termination periods. For the second study, the objective is to evaluate the effect of residual feed intake on ruminal microbial communities, feedlot performance, carcass traits, and rumen and caecum morphometrics of Nellore cattle. It will be used 27 18-mo-old Nellore bulls, with initial body weight of approximately 370 kg, in a completely randomized design, where cattle will be fed the same diet offered to cattle of treatment 3 from study 1, which will be based on finely ground corn with monensin (27 ppm). The length of adaptation period will be 14 days and the study will last 112 days. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SILVESTRE, ANTONIO M.; PINTO, ANA CAROLINA J.; SCHLEIFER, WERNER F.; MIRANDA, LIDIANE S.; SILVA, LEANDRO A. F.; CASALI, DANIEL M.; SOUZA, KATIA L. R.; GASPARINI, VANESSA G. L.; CRUZ, GUSTAVO D.; SUEN, GARRET; et al. Relationships of the Microbial Communities with Rumen Epithelium Development of Nellore Cattle Finished in Feedlot Differing in Phenotypic Residual Feed Intake. ANIMALS, v. 12, n. 7, p. 15-pg., 2022-04-01. (19/03025-0, 19/24747-4)