"ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE, ANIMAL WELFARE AND INGESTIVE BEHAVIOR OF ½ BLOOD ANGUS-NELORE BOVINE MONITORED IN REAL TIME FED DIETS WITH DIFFERENT FORAGE FIBER CONTENT"

• Grant number: 23/03586-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Dante Pazzanese Duarte Lanna
• Grantee: Dante Pazzanese Duarte Lanna
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this work is to evaluate variations in fiber levels during the final feeding phase of ½ blood Angus-Nelore animals in confinement. In this way, we will analyze strategies that can increase performance and reduce physiological problems and animal welfare problems. The study will be carried out with 60 cattle, ½ non-castrated Angus-Nelore blood with an average initial weight of 350±10. The analyzes of the diets will be carried out via bromatology. The evaluated parameters will be performance, carcass traits, fecal starch, fecal pH, TT digestibility, ingestive behavior, and blood parameters (amyloid A, haptoglobin and lactate dehydrogenase) through blood serum. A completely randomized design (DIC) will be used and will have 4 treatments. 12%fNDF: Diet with corn silage as a forage source, providing 12% of fNDF. These animals received this diet over 100 days.7% fNDF: Diet with corn silage as a forage source with 7% fNDF. These animals will receive this diet for 100 days.12-7%fNDF: Diet with corn silage as a forage source with 12% fNDF being reduced after 50 days to 7%fNDF for the remaining 50 days of the experimental period. 7-12%fNDF: Corn silage diet starting the finishing period with 7% fNDF for the first 50 days, and then back to 12% fNDF diet for the last 50 days of the experimental period. All statistical analyzes will be performed by SAS UNIVERSITY (2012). (AU)