Adapatation to high-concentrate diets for Nellore cattle

• Grant number: 11/01453-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2011
• End date: June 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Mário de Beni Arrigoni
• Grantee: Mário de Beni Arrigoni
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Carolina Tobias Marino ; Cyntia Ludovico Martins ; Danilo Domingues Millen ; Flávia Thomaz Verechia Pereira ; Paulo Henrique Mazza Rodrigues ; Rodrigo Dias Lauritano Pacheco

Abstract

The objective of this study will be to evaluate the length of protocols to adapt Nellore cattle to high concentrate diets on feedlot performance, feeding behavior, variation in dry matter intake, pH, ruminal temperature, blood metabolic profile, carcass characteristics, rumenites ande liver abscesses incidences, rumen morphology and histology of papillae. One-hundred twenty Nellore bullocks (385 kg) backgrounded on pasture will be housed in 24 pens with five animals per pen (5,4 m² and 0,4 m bunk per animal) according to the follow treatments: T1 - step up program during 9 days (S9), T2 - step up program during 14 days (S14), T3 - restriction program during 9 days (R9), e T4 - Restriction program during 14 days (R14), in a completely randomized design using the 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (2 protocols of adaptation and 2 length) with measurements repeated each 28 days. It treatment will be composed by six pens, and the pens will be experimental unit. The step up program consists of supplying diets with increasing levels of concentrate during the adaptation period to reach the desired level of concentrate on the final diet. In the restriction program the diet fed to the animal will be limited and will increase gradually to reach ad libitum intake. The diets will be offered twice a day (8h:00 min and 15h:00 min). After the period of adaptation the animals will receive the same final diet with 85% of concentrate. The animals will be slaughtered with 490 kg and subcutaneous fat at least 4 mm in a commercial slaughter house. (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)

BARDUCCI, R. S.; SARTI, L. M. N.; MILLEN, D. D.; PUTAROV, T. C.; FRANZOI, M. C. S.; RIBEIRO, F. A.; PERDIGAO, A.; ESTEVAM, D. D.; CARRARA, T. V. B.; RIGUEIRO, A. L. N.; et al. Restricted versus step-up dietary adaptation in Nellore bulls: Effects over periods of 9 and 14 days on feedlot performance, feeding behavior and rumen morphometrics. ANIMAL FEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, v. 247, p. 222-233, JAN 2019. (10/08606-7, 11/01453-3)