Effects of feed-grade live yeast on growth performance, carcass characteristics and nutrient digestibility of finishing beef cattle

• Grant number: 16/11115-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: July 25, 2016
• End date: November 24, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Danilo Domingues Millen
• Grantee: Alan Carlos Barboza Melo
• Supervisor: Jhones Onorino Sarturi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Dracena. Dracena , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Texas Tech University (TTU), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 15/11927-3 - Effects of essential oil or sodiun monensin on feedlot performance, feeding behavior, rumen health and carcass traits of Nellore cattle, BP.MS

Abstract

The objective this study is to evaluate the effect evaluate the performance (DMI, ADG and G:F), carcass characteristics and total tract nutrient apparent digestibility in beef cattle without hormonal implant, monensin and tylosin or B-agonists and receiving live yeast. One-hundred seventy crossed British x Continental steers will be used, with average initial weight of 550-600 lb. The animals will be randomly divided into 36 pens (n = 4 per pen) according to the treatments: (1) without yeast (Control); (2) ABVista yeast at estimated intake of 1.5 g per day (DM basis); and (3) ABVista yeast at estimated intake of 3.0 g per day. At the beginning of the trial and every 35 days all animals will be weighed. On day 100 of the experiment, the feces samples will be collected twice daily for 5 consecutive days, as well as diets and orts from bunks to evaluate digestibility. The dry matter intake will be measured daily by weighing the amount of feed provided and orts in the next morning. When about 60% of cattle in a given weight block have enough finish to USDA grade Choice, all cattle on the block will be slaughtered and subsequently the collection and evaluation of the carcasses will take place. Also, it will be evaluated in this project as response variables: 1) dry matter intake; 3) daily weight gain; 4) feed efficiency; 5) liver abscesses; 6) housing characteristics; 7) apparent digestibility of the diet. (AU)