Determination of net energy and blood lipopolysaccharide binding protein concentration of feedlot cattle adapted with different protocols

• Grant number: 12/23513-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Danilo Domingues Millen
• Grantee: Daniel Vitor Ferreira Vicari
• Host Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental de Dracena. Dracena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project will put together three studies that will have as objectives: 1) Calculate net energy for maintenance and gain of feedlot cattle adapted for 14 and 21 days using step up and restriction protocols; 2) Calculate net energy for maintenance and gain and determine blood lipopolysaccharide-binding protein concentration (PLPS)of feedlot cattle adapted for 9 and 14 days using step up and restriction protocols; 3)Calculate net energy for maintenance and gain, and determine blood lipopolysaccharide-binding protein concentration (PLPS)of feedlot cattle adapted for 6 and 9 days using step up and restriction protocols. One-hundred twenty animals in each study will be used, all of them Nellore yearling bulls backgrounded on pasture. For all studies will be utilized a completely randomized block design using a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The factors will be the protocols (step up and restriction) and their duration (depends on the study), building the 4 experimental treatments. Each treatment will be composed of 6 pens (5 animals/pen), which will be considered the experimental unit for all studies. The step-up protocol consists of feeding diets with increasing levels of concentrate as time goes by until reaching the level of concentrate planned for the finishing diet. Likewise, for restriction protocol, the finishing diet is fed on the first day of the study at 1,7% of body weight, and daily adjustments in the amount offered is made until reaching ad libitum intake. Animals will be fed twice daily (8h and 15h). For all studies as well as for treatments, animals will spend 84 days on feed.(AU)