Influence of crude protein content and flint maize processing methods on the performance of early-weaning Nellore calves

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) content of early-weaned calves; and the influence of flint maize processing methods on intake, total tract nutrient digestibilities and performance of Nellore heifer calves. Fifteen early-weaned Nellore female calves (4 ± 0.5 months; 108 ± 13.1 kg) were used. In phase 1, animals were fed one of the following diets for 112 days: 130, 145 or 160 g CP/kg dry matter (DM). In phase 2, animals received one of the two diets for 84 days: 0.60 dry ground maize grain, 0.30 whole-plant maize silage plus 0.10 mineral-protein supplement or 0.90 snaplage plus 0.10 mineral-protein supplement. In phase 1, intake and digestibility of dietary components were not affected (P > 0.05) by increasing dietary CP content. Daily total urinary nitrogen (N) and urinary urea N increased (P < 0.05) in response to increasing dietary CP content. Animal performance was not affected (P > 0.05) by dietary CP content. In phase 2, maize processing methods did not affect (P > 0.05) intake and digestibility of dietary components as well as animal performance, carcase characteristics and carcase composition. Therefore, based on the current experimental condition, we conclude that dietary CP concentrations of 130 g/kg DM can be indicated for early-weaned Nellore calves. However, more studies are recommended to validate this result and to evaluate concentrations below 130 g CP/kg DM for early-weaned Nellore calves. Moreover, snaplage could be used as an exclusive fibre and energy source for finishing cattle in feedlot.

Digestibility of western Canadian finishing beef cattle diets when short-season, high-moisture shelled corn and snaplage partially replace dry-rolled barley grain and barley silage

“…Most peer-reviewed in vivo snaplage research has been focused on dairy cattle starch digestion and lactation performance (Evans et al 2013;Ferraretto et al 2018), but recently, snaplage has garnered interest as a roughage and energy ingredient in Brazilian finishing diets (Daniel et al 2019;Salvo et al 2020;Godoi et al 2021aGodoi et al , 2021bGusmão et al 2021). Otherwise, data on snaplage for beef cattle has been limited to conference papers and extension reports Lardy and Anderson 2016;Stateler 2018;Rusche 2020).…”

“…Because of the inclusion of the cob, husk, and shank as well as the grain, the NDF concentration of snaplage is typically greater than that of barley grain, but at the expense of starch suggesting that snaplage could be considered a highenergy forage source or a high-NDF grain source (NASEM 2016). Researchers have hypothesized that snaplage could be used as both an energy and roughage source in finishing cattle diets (Lardy and Anderson 2016;Godoi et al 2021b), but we are unaware of peer-reviewed studies investigating the We hypothesized that partially replacing barley grain with high-moisture shelled corn from a short-season corn variety in finishing cattle diets would increase the extent of ruminal starch digestion and decrease mean ruminal pH while increasing the duration that ruminal pH is below 5.5. Additionally, completely replacing barley silage and a portion of the barley grain with snaplage would increase ruminal starch digestibility and the duration that ruminal pH is below 5.5 while decreasing mean ruminal pH and the extent of ruminal NDF digestibility.…”