Effect of level and sources of non-fiber carbohydrates on rumen kinetics of finishing bulls

• Grant number: 14/10365-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2014
• End date: January 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Luis Felipe Prada e Silva
• Grantee: Alexandre Nunes Mendes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Beef cattle finishing diets have high energy contents, which represents a challenge for the stability of ruminal ecosystem. With the increasing popularity of sugarcane silage by farmers, it becomes essential to understand the effect of supplementing with different levels and sources of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) on rumen metabolism and animal performance. The objective of this study is to quantify the effect of partial replacement of ground corn by flaked corn or citrus pulp in two levels of concentrate in the diet on performance, carcass characteristics, ruminal fermentation, degradation kinetics, ruminal passage of fiber, total digestibility of DM and starch. The study will consist of six experimental diets based on sugarcane silage with two concentrate levels on diet (60% or 80% concentrate on dry matter) and three sources of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC): ground corn will be partially replaced for flaked corn or citrus pulp. For measuring ruminal kinetics six rumen cannulated Nellore steers will be used at a 6x6 Latin Square design. Total rumen mass and volume will be determined by rumen emptying. Samples will be taken from both, solid and liquid phases, for determining the size of the rumen pool and digest components. Samples from the diet, orts and rumen digest will be measured for nutrient content. Indigestible NDF will be estimated as NDF content after 264h of in situ incubation. Rumen liquid volume and rate of passage will be calculated using polyethylene glycol 4,000 MW.