Effect of energy supplementation time and sources on ruminal parameter to optimize f1 Angus-Nellore growing

• Grant number: 20/06679-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Pastures and Forage Crops
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Andrade Reis
• Grantee: Willi Rocha Meireles
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazilian beef cattle livestock is a pillar of the national economy and has been growing every year, being developed exclusively on pastures. In this sense, the searching for new alternatives in animal nutrition and the consequent increasing in performance is a challenge for producers. Energy supplementation is an auxiliary tool, since it allows greater use of nutrients from forage, especially when it has a high content of soluble nitrogen (N) compounds. In addition to maize, the citrus pulp is gaining prominence as an energy substrate in ruminant nutrition, as it has positive effects on rumen fermentation, fiber digestion and microbial protein production. This research aims to evaluate the isolated and/or associated effects of two feeding times (9 am and 5 pm) with two sources of energy supplementation (maize or citrus pulp) in the growing of F1 Angus x Nellore bulls in palisade grass pastures, and its implications on ruminal parameters. at Forage and Pastures Sector of FCAV/UNESP during the growing phase of animals kept in palisade cv. Marandu pastures. Eight ruminal cannulated ½ Angus x Nellore bulls will be used, with 240 kg of IBW, distributed in a 4x4 double latin square design. The treatments will consist of: 1 - energy supplementation 0.3% of BW with maize supplied at 9 am; 2 - energy supplementation 0.3% of BW with citrus pulp supplied at 9 am; 3 - energy supplementation 0.3% of BW with maize supplied at 5 pm; 4 - energy supplementation 0.3% of BW with citrus pulp supplied at 5 pm.