ABSTRACT The objectives were to evaluate the effects of monensin and virginiamycin, alone or combined, on supplemented Nellore cattle grazing tropical grass during the rainy season. Two experiments were conducted simultaneously to evaluate intake, digestibility, CH4 emissions, blood parameters, performance, and carcass characteristics (Exp. 1), and ruminal fermentation and relative abundance of ruminal microorganisms (Exp. 2). Animals (n = 92 Exp. 1 and n = 12 Exp. 2) were distributed in a completely randomized design and allocated in twelve paddocks composed of Urochloa brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf. cv. Xaraés. A protein-energetic supplementation of 3 g/kg of BW per day was provided to all animals. Supplements were: without additives (WA), monensin alone at 80 mg/kg of product (MN), virginiamycin alone at 150 mg/kg of product (VM), and monensin (80 mg/kg of product) combined with virginiamycin (150 mg/kg of product; MNVM). Treatments did not affect intakes of total dry matter (DM), supplement DM, and nutrients. However, the intakes of forage DM and crude protein decreased in cattle fed MNVM compared with animals fed WA, MN, and VM. Total volatile fatty acids increased in animals fed VM. Ruminal NH3-N decreased, and pH increased in animals fed MN, VM, and MNVM. Relative abundance of total F. succinogenes and S. ruminantium decreased and R. flavefaciens increased in animals fed MN and VM at d 118. Treatments had no effect on enteric CH4 emissions. The average daily gain (ADG) and total gain were greater in cattle fed MNVM than in cattle fed MN. Combination of monensin and virginiamycin altered the rumen microbial populations but did not decrease enteric CH4 emissions. However, it decreased forage dry matter intake without altering the ADG and total weight gain, leading to an increase in feed efficiency. Results from this study indicate an advantage in including feed additives combined in the diet of supplemented Nellore cattle grazing tropical grass during the rainy season.

ABSTRACT. This study evaluated the effect of phosphorus (P) supplementation on the intake, digestibility, and quality of aged meat from Nellore young bulls fed on high-grain diets finished in feedlot. Forty young bulls (30 months old) with an initial body weight (IBW) of 296 ± 25 kg were used. It was distributed in a completely randomized experimental design. The treatments were: without P supplementation (CO), commercial mineral supplement (CM), and supplementation with dicalcium phosphate (DP) with 2.4, 4.2, or 5.0 g of P per kg of dry matter (DM), respectively. Diets were composed of sugarcane bagasse (200 g kg-1) plus concentrate (800 g kg-1) on a dry matter (DM) basis. The meat quality parameters analyzed were pH, color, cooking losses, shear force, and water-holding capacity. P supplementation did not affect the intake and digestibility of nutrients There was no interaction (p > 0.05%) between diets and the aging time for the meat quality parameters. However, bulls fed with DP exhibited lower pH (5.98) compared to CO and CM (6.19 and 6.14, respectively). The longer aging time increased the cooking losses and intensity of yellow (b*). Under Brazilian conditions, feedlot Nellore cattle fed with high-grain diets do not require additional mineral supplements.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of lipid sources on voluntary intake, digestibility, performance, and CH4 emission of Nellore steers grazing Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés forage in the dry season. Forty-five Nellore steers with average weight of 442±34 kg were alloted into one of the five treatments: without additional fat; with palm oil; with linseed oil; with protected fat; and with whole soybeans. The supplements were provided daily and quantities were adjusted to 1% of body weight and diets were formulated in accordance with the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and two replications. There were no effects on dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber intake with the inclusion of lipids in the diet. The neutral detergent fiber showed decreased digestibility in animals receiving linseed oil and palm oil treatments compared with animals receiving the diet without additional fat. The linseed oil treatment reduced CH4 emissions by 38% when expressed in mg/d/kg BW and tended to reduce the emission in g/d/kg BW0.75. Lipid sources did not affect the weight gain of the animals. The intake and performance of grazing Nellore steers supplemented at 1% body weight with lipid sources were not modified. However, fiber digestibility was reduced with palm or linseed oil addition. Linseed oil reduced enteric CH4 emissions. Linseed oil has the potential to reduce enteric CH4 emissions in continuous tropical grazing systems based on B. brizantha grass.

Seis ovinos Texel × Corriedale (43,6±4,4kg de peso corporal (PC)), alimentados ad libitum com silagem de bagaço de sorgo sacarino (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. saccharatum), foram usados em um experimento em duplo Quadrado Latino 3×3 para avaliar o efeito nutricional da suplementação com níveis de farelo de girassol (0, 7 ou 14g kg-1 de PC). Uma solução (8%, p/v) de ureia e sulfato de amônio (9:1, respectivamente) foi misturada à silagem no momento do fornecimento aos animais, em todos os tratamentos, numa proporção de 50ml de solução kg-1 de silagem. O consumo total de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e de carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF), assim como o consumo de MS da silagem e de MO digestível, foram positivamente afetados (P<0,05) pelo aumento da suplementação com farelo de girassol. A digestibilidade da FDN não foi afetada pelos tratamentos, enquanto que a digestibilidade aparente da MS e da MO foi linearmente (P<0,05) incrementada pela suplementação. A eficiência de síntese proteica microbiana ruminal não foi influenciada pelos tratamentos, enquanto que o consumo, a digestibilidade, a excreção urinária e a retenção de N, assim como a síntese de proteína microbiana ruminal, foram linearmente e positivamente afetados pela suplementação (P<0,05). Em conclusão, a suplementação com farelo de girassol impacta positivamente a utilização da silagem de bagaço de sorgo sacarino e a oferta de nutrientes para ovinos.

Six Texel × Polwarth (43.6±4.4kg of body weight (BW)) wethers fed ad libitum sorghum bagasse silage (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. saccharatum) were used in a replicated 3×3 Latin Square experiment to evaluate the nutritional effect of supplementing levels of sunflower meal (0, 7 or 14g kg-1 de BW). In all treatments the urea plus ammonium sulphate (9:1, respectively) solution (8%, p/v) was mixed to silage at feeding at a rate of 50ml k-1g of silage. Total dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC) intake, as well as DM intake from silage and digestible OM intake were positively affected (P<0.05) by increased levels of sunflower meal supplementation. The NDF digestibility was not affected by treatments whereas the apparent DM and OM digestibility were linearly increased (P<0.05) due supplementation. The efficiency of ruminal microbial protein synthesis was not affected by treatments whereas N intake, digestibility, urinary excretion and retention as well as rumen microbial protein synthesis increased linearly (P<0.05) at increased levels of supplementation. In conclusion, sunflower meal supplementation positively impacts sorghum silage utilization and nutrients supply to wethers.