Effects of Bismuth Subsalicylate and Calcium-Ammonium Nitrate on Liver Mineral Concentration and Performance of Growing Beef Heifers

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2018-03, Vol.96, p.60-61
• Main Authors: Henry, D D, Ciriaco, F M, Mejia, S, Fontes, P L P, Oosthuizen, N, Sanford, C D, DiLorenzo, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonium; Ammonium nitrate; Bismuth; Bismuth subsalicylate; Calcium; Calcium nitrate; Cattle; Copper; Data collection; Data processing; Liver; Minerals; Molasses; Nitrates; Paspalum notatum; Pasture; Pastures; Ultrasound; Urea; Ureas
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163

To evaluate the effects of bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) and encapsulated calcium-ammonium nitrate (eCAN) on performance and liver mineral concentration of growing cattle, 75 Bos taurus x Bos indicus heifers (279 ± 57 kg of initial BW; 15.6 ± 4.1 mo of age) were used in an incomplete randomized block design with a 2 x 2 + 1 arrangement of treatments. The experiment consisted of a 28-d adaptation period followed by a 56-d data collection period in which heifers were weighed every 14 d. Heifers were stratified, blocked by weight, and allotted to 25 dormant bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures where they received 1.07 kg/heifer/d of molasses and ad libitum access to bahiagrass hay. Pastures were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments: NCTRL (no added NPN or BSS), U (urea supplemented at 182 mg/kg of BW), NIT (eCAN supplemented at 350 mg/kg of BW), UB (urea supplemented at 182 mg/kg of BW and BSS supplemented at 58.4 mg/kg of BW) and NITB (eCAN supplemented at 350 mg/kg of BW and BSS supplemented at 58.4 mg/ kg of BW). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with pasture as the experimental unit. Contrasts were used to determine: effect of NCTRL vs. all other treatments (N); source of NPN (NS); effect of BSS (B); and the interaction between NPN source and BSS (BxNS). Final BW was not affected by N (P = 0.470), NS (P = 0.384), or B (P = 0.600); however, there was a BxNS interaction (P = 0.048) where NITB heifers had lesser BW compared with UB heifers. There was no effect of N, NS, B, or BxNS for ADG measured within any time points (P > 0.05). For carcass ultrasound measurements, there was no effect (P > 0.05) of N, NS, or B on LM area; however, a BxNS interaction (P = 0.001) was observed for 12th-rib fat thickness where NITB heifers had less back-fat compared with UB heifers on d 56. Concentration of minerals in the liver was not affected by NS (P > 0.05). No BxNS interactions (P = 0.05) were observed affecting liver mineral concentration; however, the addition of BSS decreased liver concentration of Cu (P = 0.002). In conclusion, the addition of eCAN did not affect performance of growing heifers unless it was provided in combination with BSS, which may decrease growth performance. Furthermore, BSS may negatively affect trace mineral concentrations in the liver.