Evaluation of growth physiology of young bulls from distinct genetic groups subject to different nutritional plans on stocker grazing phase

• Grant number: 14/26047-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: June 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Telma Teresinha Berchielli
• Grantee: Elias San Vito
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The understanding of the physiology of the animal growth is extremely important in beef cattle production. Once the ratio of the development and the rate of deposition of tissue may influence weight gain and composition related to the profitability of livestock systems. Investigations on how the tissue metabolism change deposition during the feeding phase will improve the ability to produce high quality carcass. This project aims to evaluate the interactions between the processes that contribute to animal growth and that will impact on meat quality of young bulls of different genetic groups fed by two nutritional plans. To do so, samples will be collected and used data from a total of 162 animals from three distinct genetic groups (Nellore, ½ Angus x ½ Nellore and Senepol), stocker at two nutritional plans in the rainy season. Forty eight animals from each genetic group will be allotted in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement (two nutritional plans x three genetic groups), with 24 replicates for treatment. The nutritional plans will be: mineral salt and additive in 0.03% of BW or supplementation in 0.3% of BW with concentrate. Reference animals will be slaughtered at the beginning and end of the stocking phase. Initially, 18 animals will be slaughtered (six from each genetic group), that will be used as a reference group, and 24 animals (four of each treatment) slaughtered at the end of stocker grazing phase. Will be assessed: feed efficiency, the deposition of muscle and adipose tissue, blood parameters, weight gain and carcass, adipogenesis and expression of genes involving the deposition of muscle and adipose tissues. (AU)