Effect of phase-feeding crude protein on performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred beef bulls: an application to reduce nitrogen compounds in beef cattle diets

Beef cattle (24) with an average initial body weight of 417 ± 54 kg were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design with six repetitions. The factors studied were two levels of CP: 11 (low CP) or 13 % (high CP) in the initial feedlot phase (days 1–36) and in the final phase (days 37–72). After 36 days, ha...

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Published in:Tropical animal health and production 2014-02, Vol.46 (2), p.419-425
Main Authors: de Melo Amaral, Paloma, de Campos Valadares Filho, Sebastião, Detmann, Edenio, Santos, Stefanie Alvarenga, Prados, Laura Franco, Silva Mariz, Lays Débora, Alves, Lyvian Cardoso, Menezes, Ana Clara Baião, Villadiego, Faider Alberto Castaño, Novaes, Marco Aurélio Schiavo, de Sales Silva, Flávia Adriane
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Feed - analysis
Animals
average daily gain
beef bulls
Beef cattle
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Body Composition - drug effects
Body Weight
Carbohydrates
carcass characteristics
Cattle - physiology
crude protein
diet
Diet - veterinary
Dietary Proteins - pharmacology
Dry matter
dry matter intake
Feedlots
Life Sciences
Male
nitrogen compounds
Nitrogen Compounds - chemistry
Nutrients
Organic matter
Regular Articles
Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science
Zoology
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Summary:Beef cattle (24) with an average initial body weight of 417 ± 54 kg were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design with six repetitions. The factors studied were two levels of CP: 11 (low CP) or 13 % (high CP) in the initial feedlot phase (days 1–36) and in the final phase (days 37–72). After 36 days, half of the bulls fed with each level of CP were selected to reverse the CP level. No interaction was observed (P > 0.05) between the level of protein in the initial and final phases on the intake of the nutrients evaluated. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of the protein levels in the initial and final phases on intake of dry matter, organic matter, CP, non-fiber carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients. No differences were observed among treatments (P > 0.05) for average daily gain (X = 1.99 kg/day) and carcass traits. We conclude that it is possible to feed Holstein-Zebu crossed bulls with an average daily gain of approximately 2 kg using a fixed level of 11 % CP during the entire feedlot period, and this diet is economically viable and environmentally sound.
ISSN:0049-4747
1573-7438
DOI:10.1007/s11250-013-0507-z