Impact of inclusion of dry distillers grains plus solubles on performance, nitrogen excretion, rumen microbiota and greenhouse gas emissions in feedlot cattle

• Grant number: 23/00518-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Flávio Augusto Portela Santos
• Grantee: Larissa de Melo Coelho
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10573-4 - Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (CCARBON), AP.CEPID
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/16439-3 - Performance of lambs, methane and nitrous oxide emission from grazed diverse swards, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The research aims to evaluate the effect of inclusion levels of dry distillers grains plus soluble (DDGS) (de-oiled) in the diet of feedlot cattle on the performance, metabolism, ruminal microbiota, N excretion and emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). Five treatments will be used, considering levels of DDGS inclusion in the dry matter (DM) of: 1) 0 g/kg of DDGS, 2) 150 g/kg of DDGS, 3) 300 g/kg of DDGS, 4) 450 g /kg DDGS, 5) 600 g/kg DDGS. A performance experiment will be carried out, with 400 animals in collective pens, in a randomized block design, the animals will be fed with the experimental diets for 120 days, the dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), efficiency feed (EA), and carcass traits will be evaluated. Nitrous oxide gas (N2O) will be collected inside the pens in six moments during the feedlot period (120 days), after different days an accumulation of excreta inside the pen. The pens will be cleaned, and the collections will be carried out after 1, 3 and 6 days of accumulation, thus totalling 18 collections during the feedlot. The metabolism experiment will be conducted with 20 animals cannulated in the rumen, in which the N balance, ruminal fermentation, CH4 production, blood parameters and ruminal microbiology will be evaluated. The data will be analysed in the SAS software; the mean of the treatments will be compared using test of mean. The declared significance will be Pd0.05.