Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

The Potential of Shortening the Adaptation of Nellore Cattle to High-Concentrate Diets Using Only Virginiamycin as Sole Feed Additive

Full text
Author(s):
Show less -
Rigueiro, Andre L. N. [1] ; Squizatti, Mariana M. [1] ; Silvestre, Antonio M. [1] ; Pinto, Ana C. J. [1] ; Estevam, Daniela D. [1] ; Felizari, Luana D. [1] ; Dias, Evandro F. F. [2] ; Demartini, Breno L. [1] ; Nunes, Ana B. P. C. [2] ; Costa, Victor C. M. [2] ; Caixeta, Eduardo L. [2] ; Santi, Pedro F. [2] ; Soares, Carlos H. G. [2] ; Arrigoni, Mario D. B. [1] ; Millen, Danilo D. [2]
Total Authors: 15
Affiliation:
[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Breeding & Anim Nutr, UNESP, Botucatu, SP - Brazil
[2] Sao Paulo State Univ, Coll Agr & Technol Sci, Dept Anim Prod, UNESP, Dracena - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE; v. 8, AUG 2 2021.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Feedlot cattle are usually adapted to high-concentrate diets containing sodium monensin (MON) in more than 14 days. However, for finishing diets with lower energy content, the use of MON during adaptation may hold dry matter intake (DMI), and virginiamycin (VM) may be an alternative. This study was designed to determine the potential of shortening the adaptation of Nellore cattle to high-concentrate diets using only VM as a sole feed additive relative to feedlot performance, feeding behavior, and ruminal and cecum morphometrics. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized block replicated six times (four animals/pen) in which 120 Nellore bulls (390.4 <= 19.0 kg) were fed in 30 pens for 111 days according to the following treatments: (1) MON and adaptation for 14 days (MON14), (2) MON + VM and adaptation for 14 days (MONVM14), (3) VM and adaptation for 14 days (VM14), (4) VM and adaptation for 9 days (VM9), and (5) VM and adaptation for 6 days (VM6). At the end of the adaptation, 30 animals (n = 1 per pen) were randomly slaughtered for rumen and cecum evaluations. The remaining 90 bulls were harvested at the end of the study. No effects of treatments were observed (P < 0.10) for final body weight, average daily gain (ADG), and hot carcass weight (HCW). Cattle fed VM14 presented a greater (P <= 0.03) DMI, expressed as percent of body weight (BW), than animals fed either MON14 or MONVM14; however, cattle fed either MON14 or MONVM14 improved (P <= 0.02) the gain-to-feed ratio (G/F) by 10.4 or 8.1%, respectively, when compared to bulls fed VM14. Bulls fed VM14 had smaller (P < 0.05) papillae area (0.34 vs. 0.42 cm(2)) and rumen absorptive surface area (28.9 vs. 33.8 cm(2)) than those fed MON14. The shortening of the adaptation period linearly decreased the 12th rib fat (P = 0.02) and biceps femoris fat daily gain (P = 0.02) of Nellore bulls fed only VM, which linearly decreased the final biceps femoris fat thickness (P < 0.01). Feedlot cattle fed VM as a sole feed additive should not be adapted to high-concentrate diets in less than 14 days. Regardless of either adaptation length or feed additive, feedlot cattle need at least 14 days to adapt to finishing diets. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 17/17896-8 - Use of Virginiamycin to shorten the adaptation period to high-energy diets and to increase carcass weight of feedlot Nellore cattle.
Grantee:Danilo Domingues Millen
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants