The validity of n-alkanes to estimate intake and digestibility in Nellore beef cattle fed a tropical grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu)

Autor(es)

Morais, J. A. S. ^{[1, 2]} ; Berchielli, T. T. ^[1] ; de Vega, A. ^[3] ; Queiroz, M. F. S. ^{[1, 2]} ; Keli, A. ^[3] ; Reis, R. A. ^[1] ; Bertipaglia, L. M. A. ^{[1, 2]} ; Souza, S. F. ^{[1, 2]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, BR-14874900 Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[2] UNESP, Postgrad Program Anim Sci, Jaboticabal - Brazil

^[3] Univ Zaragoza, Dept Prod Anim & Ciencia Alimentos, E-50013 Zaragoza - Spain

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: LIVESTOCK SCIENCE; v. 135, n. 2-3, p. 184-192, FEB 2011.
• Citações Web of Science: 14

Resumo

The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate the ability of n-alkanes to estimate dry matter (DM) intake (DMI) and digestibility (DMD) in Nellore beef cattle fed a tropical grass cut at two growth stages (30 or 60 days). The effect of two different faecal sampling procedures (daily pool-Total- or rectal spot-Spot-samples) was also tested. Differences in faecal concentration between sampling methods were lower than 2% and 0.7% for 30-d and 60-d old grass, respectively, with slightly higher values in Spot samples. Faecal recoveries were not affected by the grass growth stage, except in the cases of C(31), C(33), and C(35) (P < 0.05), which were lower for 30-d compared to 60-d. There was lower ratio (P < 0.05) between internal and external recovery alkane pairs C(31)/C(32), C(33)/C(32) and C(35)/C(36) in treating 30-d treatment than in 60-d old grass. Faecal recovery of natural alkanes increased with chain length, recoveries up to 77.0% (C(35)), whereas dosed alkanes C(28), C(32) and C(36) showed average recoveries of 94.2%, 97.2% and 86.8%, respectively. Estimates of DMI were different from current values (P < 0.05) when used C(31)/C(32). C(33)/C(32) and C(35)/C(36) natural/dosed alkane pairs, regardless of the sampling procedure. An exception was the DMI estimated using the C(35)/C(36) alkane pair of the samples of total sampling, which does not differ from the actual values (P > 0.05). However, using recovery-corrected faecal concentrations reduced the differences between observed and estimated values (P > 0.05). Similarly, the DMD was underestimated with the alkanes C(31). C(33) and C(36), regardless of the method of sampling. Observed effect of forage development stage in the estimates of DMD (P < 0.05), (lower values for 30-d treatment were observed than in the 60-d), due to lower faecal recovery of alkanes in the 30-d treatment. By correcting the concentrations of alkanes with the faecal recovery of the individual alkane, the differences between the estimated and actual values were canceled (P > 0.05), regardless of age of forage, the alkane used or the sampling method. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 05/54386-0 - Avaliação de indicadores na estimativa do consumo, digestibilidade e fluxo de nutrientes pelo trato digestivo de bovinos de corte alimentados com "Brachiaria brizantha" (Hochst) Stapf cv. Marandu
• Beneficiário: Telma Teresinha Berchielli
• Linha de fomento: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 04/10194-8 - Validação da metodologia dos n-alcanos para estimar consumo voluntário e digestibilidade em bovinos de corte alimentados com Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst) Stapf cv. Marandu
• Beneficiário: Jucileia Aparecida da Silva Morais
• Linha de fomento: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado