Feed additives used in finishing diets improve energy efficiency in ruminal fermentation, resulting in increased animal performance. However, there is no report evaluating the effect of BEO associated with exogenous α-amylase in response to increased starch content in feedlot diets. Our objective was to evaluate increasing levels of starch in the diet associated with a blend of essential oils plus amylase or sodium Monensin on performance, carcass characteristics, and ruminal and cecal morphometry of feedlot cattle. 210 Nellore bulls were used (initial body weight of 375 ± 13.25), where they were blocked and randomly allocated in 30 pens. The experiment was designed in completely randomized blocks in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement: three starch levels (25, 35, and 45%), and two additives: a blend of essential oils plus α-amylase (BEO, 90 and 560 mg/kg of DM, respectively) or sodium Monensin (MON, 26 mg/kg DM). The animals were fed once a day at 08:00 ad libitum and underwent an adaptation period of 14 days. The diets consisted of sugarcane bagasse, ground corn, soybean hulls, cottonseed, soybean meal, mineral-vitamin core, and additives. The animals fed BEO35 had higher dry matter intake (P = 0.02) and daily weight gain (P = 0.02). The MON treatment improved feed efficiency (P = 0.02). The treatments BEO35 and BEO45 increased hot carcass weight (P < 0.01). Animals fed BEO presented greater carcass yield (P = 0.01), carcass gain (P < 0.01), rib eye area gain (P = 0.01), and final rib eye area (P = 0.02) when compared to MON. The MON25 treatment improved carcass gain efficiency (P = 0.01), final marbling (P = 0.04), and final subcutaneous fat thickness (P < 0.01). The use of MON reduced the fecal starch% (P < 0.01). Cattle-fed BEO increased rumen absorptive surface area (P = 0.05) and % ASA papilla area (P < 0.01). The MON treatment reduced the cecum lesions score (P = 0.02). Therefore, the use of BEO with 35 and 45% starch increases carcass production with similar biological efficiency as MON; and animals consuming MON25 improve feed efficiency and reduce lesions in the rumen and cecum.
This study, conducted at DSM Beef Center, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, was designed to evaluate the effects of different starch levels in the diets associated to feed additives on performance of Nellore bulls. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized block, with a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, in which 210 18-mo-old yearling Nellore bulls (375.8 ± 16.8 kg) were fed in 30 pens (n = 7/pen), for 90 d according to the treatments: 25% starch (Low-S) + monensin (MON, 26 mg/kg DM); 35% starch (Med-S) + monensin; 45% starch (High-S) + monensin; Low-S + Essential Oils and amylase (CR, Crina®, 90 mg/kg DM and RumistarTM, 560 mg/kg DM, DSM Nutritional products); Med-S + CR; High-S + CR. Each treatment was replicated five times. Weight assessments were performed at day 0 and 90 of the study after 14 h fasting. A significant interaction was observed for final BW (P = 0.04) and HCW (P = 0.01). Cattle fed Med-S and High-S diets containing CR had heavier carcasses than those fed Med-S + monensin (287.4 vs. 270.9 kg) and High-S + monensin (281.4 vs. 263.0 kg), respectively; however, bulls fed Low-S diets with either monensin or CR had similar HCW (P > 0.05, 279.9 vs. 282.8 kg, respectively). In addition, cattle fed CR had greater dressing percentage (P < 0.01; 55.4 vs. 54.6%) regardless of starch levels. An interaction was observed (P = 0.02) for ADG, in which cattle fed Med-S + CR had greater ADG (1.58 kg) than cattle fed MON across all starch levels (1.48, 1.37 and 1.28, respectively) and then those fed High-S + CR (1.48 kg/d; P < 0.01). Similar responses were observed for DMI (P = 0.02). Cattle fed monensin improved G:F in 2.7% compared to those fed CR (0.150 vs. 0.146, P = 0.02). In conclusion, Crina® and RumistarTM increases carcass production of feedlot cattle fed medium and high-starch diets.
This study, conducted at São Paulo University feedlot, Dracena, Brazil, was designed to evaluate the effect of adding either high-moisture corn, calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA), or organic Zn+Cr on feedlot performance and carcass traits of Nellore cattle fed for 112 days. One-hundred fifty 18-mo-old Nellore bulls (404±24kg) were used and initially ranked, according to sires’ information, into groups of high and low EPD. Secondly, cattle were blocked by weight and randomly allocated to 30 pens (n = 5/pen), which were randomly assigned to the following 2x2 + 1 arrangement of treatments: Finely-ground corn, High-moisture corn, Finely-ground + CSFA, High-moisture corn + CSFA, and High-moisture corn + CSFA + Zn (90 ppm) and Cr (0.45 ppm). All diets contained 25 ppm of monensin. On day 0, one animal per pen was randomly selected to be slaughtered for baseline purposes. The replacement of finely-ground by high-moisture corn increased (P < 0.05) final BW (585 vs. 573 kg), ADG, HCW (321 kg vs. 315 kg) and decreased (P < 0.01) DMI (9.7 vs. 10.1 kg). Likewise, the addition of CSFA increased final BW, ADG (1.62 vs. 1.50 kg), and HCW (321 vs. 314 kg). The addition of Cr+Zn led to increased (P = 0.02) dressing percentage. No treatment effect was observed on final marbling (P > 0.55). It was observed interactions between treatments and EPD for G:F (P = 0.02) and final 12thrib-fat thickness (P = 0.03), where cattle from low-EPD groups needed high-moisture corn, CSFA and organic Zn+Cr to improve G:F and increase fat deposition; however, animals from high-EPD groups required only high-moisture corn. The adding of either high-moisture corn, CSFA, or organic Zn+Cr improved feedlot performance of Nellore cattle, and its effects seemed to be more effective in animals from low-EPD groups.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.