Abstract
This study was realized to evaluate the effect of the ‘multiple supplements’ containing spineless cactus enriched with urea (0, 1, 2 and 3% on dry matter basis - DM) as a replacement to a traditional supplement (control) on ruminal parameters and microbial protein synthesis in crossbred steers. Five steers(½ Holstein x Zebu) can nulated in the rumen, with an average initial body weight of 240 ± 22.1 kg were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square. A quadratic effect was observed for DM intake and N retention, with maximum values of 6.97 kg d -1 and 50.9 gd -1 with the inclusion of 1.8 and 2.1% urea, respectively. Maximum concentrations of 16.2, 23.2 and 24.3 mg dL -1 of N-NH 3 were recorded in animals fed spineless cactus enriched with 1, 2, and 3% of urea. There was a quadratic effect on ruminal pH, with a value of 6.45 at 4.08 hours after feeding. Microbial synthesis efficiency of 103 g CPkg -1 TDN was obtained with the inclusion of 1.6% urea. Multiple supplements containing spineless cactus enriched with 1.6 up to 1.8% urea in replacement of a traditional supplement is recommended for cattle.
Highlights
The establishment of an efficient management of rearing females is the basis of any dairy production system, with significant participation in production costs (Queiroz, Berchielli, Signoretti, Ribeiro, & Morais, 2012)
dry matter (DM) intake showed a quadratic behavior (p < 0.10) with a maximum value of 6.97 kgd-1 estimated with spineless cactus enriched with 1.8% urea (Table 2)
The behavior observed for nitrogen intake in animals fed spineless cactus without urea and those fed spineless cactus enriched with 1% urea was due to both the dry matter intake of the animals and the protein content of the diet
Summary
The establishment of an efficient management of rearing females is the basis of any dairy production system, with significant participation in production costs (Queiroz, Berchielli, Signoretti, Ribeiro, & Morais, 2012). The spineless cactus, before considered a food alternative, has become important in dairy production systems, due to the high dry matter production per unit area. It is an excellent source of energy from the non-fiber carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients (Ferreira, Bispo, Rocha, Urbano, & Costa, 2012). We hypothesized that spineless cactus enriched with urea, in the form of a ‘multiple supplements’, could replace traditional supplements composed of corn, wheat bran, and soybean meal for cattle. This study realisedto evaluate the effect of the ‘multiple supplements’ containing spineless cactus enriched with urea, as a replacement to a traditional supplement on the rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in crossbred steers
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