Strategic supplementation of growing cattle on tropical pastures improves nutrient use and animal performance, with fewer days required on the finishing phase

Author(s):Show less -

Azevedo Costa, Diogo Fleury ^{[1, 2]} ; Correia, Paulo Sergio ^[1] ; Reboucas Dorea, Joao Ricardo ^{[3, 1]} ; De Souza, Jonas ^[1] ; de Souza Congio, Guilhermo Francklin ^{[1, 4]} ; Pires, Alexandre Vaz ^[1] ; Muniz Malafaia, Pedro Antonio ^[5] ; Drouillard, James ^[6] ; dos Santos Dias, Carlos Tadeu ^[1] ; Luchiari-Filho, Albino ^[1] ; Portela Santos, Flavio Augusto ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Anim Sci, Av Padua Dias 235, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Cent Queensland Univ, Inst Future Farming Syst, Bruce Highway, North Rockhampton, Qld 4702 - Australia

^[3] Univ Wisconsin, Dept Dairy Sci, 1675 Observ Dr, Madison, WI 53706 - USA

^[4] Agrosavia, Colombian Corp Agr Res, Km 14 Via Mosquera, Bogota 250047, Cun - Colombia

^[5] Univ Fed Rural Rio de Janeiro, Dept Anim Nutr & Pastures, BR 465, Km 7, BR-23897000 Seropedica, RJ - Brazil

^[6] Kansas State Univ, Dept Anim Sci & Ind, 2900 Coll Ave, Manhattan, KS 66506 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE; v. 61, n. 5 DEC 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Context. Cattle grazing tropical forages usually perform below genetic potential due to limited nutrient intake. Aims. Four experiments were conducted to evaluate supplementation strategies on performance and metabolism of cattle grazing intensively managed marandu palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha). Methods. Experiment 1 evaluated the average daily gain (ADG) of 72 young bulls (222 +/- 25 kg bodyweight, BW) grazing palisade grass and supplemented (22% crude protein, CP) at 0.0%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9% BW, and their ADG during the feedlot finishing phase. Experiment 2 evaluated the ADG of 80 bulls (240 +/- 18 kg BW) grazing palisade grass and supplemented with energy (11.3% CP) or three protein sources (approximate to 20.5% CP) at 0.6% BW. Experiment 3 investigated intake, rumen parameters and digestibility of nutrients in fistulated steers (410 +/- 8.6 kg BW) fed an energy supplement, that is, ground corn, at 0.0%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9% BW, with a parallel in vitro study of fermentation kinetics (Experiment 4). Key results. Increased levels of supplementation resulted in linear increases (P < 0.05) in ADG, stocking rate (SR) and in BW gain per area. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in ADG, SR and BW gain per area among supplemental sources of protein or the energy supplement. Increasing energy levels caused a linear decrease (P < 0.05) in forage intake and grazing time and a linear increase (P < 0.05) in total dry matter and digestible-nutrient intakes, but did not affect (P > 0.05) fibre degradability. Corn supplementation also caused a linear decrease (P < 0.05) in acetate : propionate ratio, in ruminal ammonia-N and in N excretion, and a linear increase (P < 0.05) in rumen propionate concentration, in microbial synthesis and in N retention. The supplementation increased BW at the start of the feedlot phase, resulting in similar hot carcass weights with fewer days on feed and no effects on meat quality. Conclusions. Overall, despite the source utilised, supplementation increased ADG, SR and BW gain per area, with fewer days being required on the finishing period. Implications. Having adequate supplementation strategies in place will help producers increase the efficiency of their systems. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/09535-1 - Beef and dairy cattle supplementation in tropical pasture
• Grantee: Flávio Augusto Portela Santos
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants