Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of calcium salt of long-chain fatty acids (CSFA) and alfalfa on beef cattle in the late fattening. 48 Holstein bulls were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups, feeding four dietary that Leymus chinensis with (LC) or with no (LN) 2.4% CSFA, and alfalfa replaced 50% Leymus chinensis with (AC) or with no (AN) 2.4% CSFA. The results indicated that alfalfa improved the feed conversion rate (P < 0.05). CSFA increased serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and reduced the cooking loss of Longissimus muscle (P < 0.05). CSFA and alfalfa reduced Acetate/Propionate. Alfalfa and CASF had significant additive effects on the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, organic matter and rumen fermentation for acetate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, total volatile fatty acids (P < 0.05). CSFA increased microbial diversity index when compared with alfalfa (P < 0.05), but no significant differences were detected in bacterial genera abundances among diets. The relative abundances of rumen bacterial genera have significant correlation with apparent digestibility of nutrients, rumen fermentation characteristics and serum biochemical parameters (P < 0.05). These results comprehensively evaluated the additive effects of alfalfa and CSFA on the application in Holstein bulls.
Highlights
Holstein bulls had been often used to product meat as beef cattle in China
Alfalfa and CASF had significant additive effects on the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, organic matter and rumen fermentation for acetate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, total volatile fatty acids (P < 0.05)
The diet can alter the composition of rumen microorganisms, which potentially promote the growth of beef cattle
Summary
Holstein bulls had been often used to product meat as beef cattle in China. In order to improve the yield and quality of meat, ration often contains relatively high concentrates for beef cattle to deposit fat during the process of finishing. Feed diets with high readily fermentable carbohydrates usually lead to subclinical acidosis of rumen and adverse to the long-time growth performance of beef cattle. By providing highquality forage or adding oils to improve feed energy values could alleviate the rumen acidosis. On account of plant oils especially unsaturated fats are harmful to rumen micro-organisms [1], and bio-hydrogenation in rumen would transfer unsaturated fatty acids into saturated fatty acids [2]. It is very necessary to use rumenprotected fat in the production
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