Abstract

Aim of study: To assess the effects of replacing virginiamycin (VM) by functional oils (FO) from castor beans and cashew nut on beef cattle system during the early dry season (Experiment I) and during the finishing phase were evaluated the historical effect, keeping the treatments and methods intact (Experiment II).Area of study: These experiments were conducted at the Forage Crops and Grasslands section of São Paulo State University, “Julio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp–Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil).Material and methods: Two supplementation levels combined with two additives (four treatments in total) were evaluated: LSVM, low supplementation (0.3% body weight [BW]) with VM; LSFO, low supplementation (0.3% BW) with FO, HSVM, high supplementation (0.6% BW) with VM, and HSFO, high supplementation (0.6% BW) with FO. In both experiments, the experimental design was completely randomized with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (supplementation levels × additives).Main results: In Exp. I, the additive effect of VM provided greater average daily gain (ADG, p=0.02), higher supplementation level resulted in higher ADG (p=0.04) and the greatest crude protein apparent digestibility (p=0.002). However, no effects were observed between supplementation levels, additives, and interactions (p≥0.11) on voluntary intake and ruminal parameters. In Exp. II, LSVM treatment resulted in lower dry matter intake (p=0.04). Animals maintained on LSFO during the early dry season exhibited lower carcass yield (p=0.004).Research highlights: FO can be used to replace VM in beef cattle diet during the finishing phase in the feedlot without altering animal performance.

Highlights

  • Many technologies have been used to improve beef cattle chain, which has resulted in system intensification

  • The DM intake (DMI) of supplements was different (p

  • I), evaluation of different supplementation levels resulted in contrasting DMI of supplements calculated for the animals

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Many technologies have been used to improve beef cattle chain, which has resulted in system intensification. The use of the feedlot system to finish animals during the period with low forage availability would be more efficient if forage production potential was created in relation to heavier animals from the growing phase This condition is of great importance for the viability of Brazilian beef cattle production systems (Barbero et al, 2017). Additives are important ingredients in beef cattle diets because of their beneficial action These compounds can decrease the negative effects of diet changes caused mainly by the start of the finishing phase. During this phase, animals are fed with diets composed of high proportions of carbohydrates quickly fermentable, which could result in several changes in the rumen. To meet the requirements of these countries, conventional additives need be replaced by plant extracts and essential functional oils (Fugita et al, 2017)

Objectives
Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call