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- Title
Varying levels of low quality grass hay NDF in finishing diets for Nellore cattle.
- Authors
Santos, F. A. P.; Fernandes, J. J. D. R.; Drouillard, J. S.; Oliveira, L. G.; Leite, L. S.
- Abstract
Roughage is included in feedlot diets primarily for maintaining rumen health and increasing dry matter and energy intakes. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of varying levels of low quality tropical grass hay NDF (4, 7, 10, and 13%) in finishing diets for Nellore bulls. Seven hundred and twenty (720) Nellore bulls (425.9 kg ± 29.9 IBW) were blocked by IBW and randomly allotted to 24 pens. Animals were adapted gradually to the final diets for 14 days, and the experimental period lasted 96 days. Experimental diets contained 4, 7, 10, or 13% grass hay NDF (5.7 to 18.5% grass hay), ground corn (64.7 to 52.5%), soy hulls (14.5 to 13.8%), 8% whole cottonseed, 3% cottonseed meal, 1% urea, and 3% minerals/vitamin mix with monensin. Data were analyzed using R statistical software. Increasing grass hay NDF content of the diets caused a quadratic response in DMI, TDN intake, ADG, FBW, and HCW. Dressing and G/F decreased linearly, while kg of DMI/15 kg of carcass increased linearly as roughage NDF was increased in the diet. Due to the small differences in HCW among treatments, no differences were observed for BFT and REA. In conclusion, for zebu cattle fed typical Brazilian finishing diets containing ground corn plus by-products, inclusion of 7% grass hay NDF in the diet increases DMI and optimizes energy intake, ADG, FBW, and HCW, while feed efficiency is greater with 4% grass hay NDF in the diet.
- Subjects
GRAZING; CATTLE feeding &; feeds; PHYSIOLOGY
- Publication
Journal of Animal Science, 2017, Vol 95, p299
- ISSN
0021-8812
- Publication type
Abstract
- DOI
10.2527/asasann.2017.611