Effects of total mixed ration with various silage on growth performance, serum parameters, ruminal fermentation, and bacteria community profile in beef cattle.

Xia Zhang,Hucheng Wang,Xusheng Guo

doi:10.1002/fsn3.2498

Abstract

The possibilities of using high‐quality forages in incorporation with total mixed ration (TMR) during the fattening period of beef cattle have been investigated. A total of 30 Simmental bulls (438.94 ± 11.45 kg) were selected and randomly divided into two groups, TMR with single corn silage (SS) and TMR with various silage (MS). The whole experiment consisted of 15 days preparation period and 69 days experimental period. Rumen fluid and blood samples were taken from six beef cattle per treatment at the end of the experiment. The results showed that the average daily gain of the MS group (1.56 kg/day) was higher than (p < .05) the SS group (1.30 kg/day), and a decrease of feed conversion ratio in the MS (10.83) group was observed compared with SS group (12.36) (p < .05). The concentration of total volatile fatty acids for MS group was greater than (p < .05) the SS group. The activities of total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase from MS group were also higher than the SS group, but lower urea nitrogen was found in the MS group from serum (p < .05). In addition, the abundances of the Prevotella‐1 and Verrucomicrobia were higher in the MS group than the SS group (p < .05). An increase in the flavonoid biosynthesis was detected in the MS group compared with the SS group by Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes analysis. The present findings suggest that it is economical and healthy to substitute high‐quality forage +low level of concentrate for a relatively low proportion forage +high level of concentrate in a finishing diet of beef cattle, which was a feasible and healthy strategy in the intensive feeding system.

Highlights

In recent years, by the promotion of the government, the plantation of forages has been widely implemented leading to the production of high-quality forage in China, bringing in rich forage resources to herbivorous animals
In the context of these studies and extrapolation of in vitro study data, it is hypothesized that total mixed ration (TMR) with various forage silage had a positive combination effect on rumen bacteria, rumen fermentation, and growth performance of fattening beef cattle compared with a TMR with single corn silage
The present study investigated the effects on rumen fermentation characteristics, rumen bacteria profiles, serum parameters and growth performance of beef cattle fed TMR with alfalfa silage, oat silage, corn silage, and TMR with corn silage

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

By the promotion of the government, the plantation of forages (alfalfa, oats, corn, and sweet sorghum) has been widely implemented leading to the production of high-quality forage in China, bringing in rich forage resources to herbivorous animals. In the context of these studies and extrapolation of in vitro study data (unpublished; Zhang, Li, Zhou, Wang), it is hypothesized that total mixed ration (TMR) with various forage silage had a positive combination effect on rumen bacteria, rumen fermentation, and growth performance of fattening beef cattle compared with a TMR with single corn silage. To verify this hypothesis, the present study investigated the effects on rumen fermentation characteristics, rumen bacteria profiles, serum parameters and growth performance of beef cattle fed TMR with alfalfa silage, oat silage, corn silage, and TMR with corn silage. The animals were weighed using the Electronic scale (SCS) at the beginning and end of the experiment period, and calculated the average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rate (FCR)

| MATERIALS AND METHODS

Findings

| CONCLUSIONS