1638
Metabolic characteristics of grazing Nellore bulls receiving concentrated supplementation with additives

Monday, July 21, 2014
Exhibit Hall AB (Kansas City Convention Center)
Josilaine A.C. Lima , Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
Henrique J. Fernandes , State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana, Brazil
Edneia P. Rosa , State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana, Brazil
Luana S. Caramalac , State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana, Brazil
Kauê A. Silveira , State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana, Brazil
Geancarlos C. Silva , State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana, Brazil
Brayan D. D'auria , State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana, Brazil
André Aguiar , University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Abstract Text: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial concentrate supplement with additives in the metabolic characteristics of grazing bulls, during the dry/rainy transition season in Aquidauana-MS, Brazil. Twelve Nellore bulls (initial body weight of 370±15 kg) were randomly assigned to twelve Brachiaria decumbens Stapf pastures (1.0 ha/pasture; one bull/pasture) on a completely randomized design. Treatments were: 1) concentrate supplement Lipomax® with homeopathic additives (Convert H®, Sodo 100®, Figotonus®) and Virginiamicina® (Lipomax treatment), and 2) concentrate supplement with a similar protein content (18% CP), and without additives (Control treatment). Animals were feed daily at rate of 0.5% of the animal’s body weight. After 53 d, when the animals achieved body weight of 426±27.3 kg, urine “spot” and blood samples of the animals were collected, four hours after the concentrate supplement was offered. Urine samples were analyzed for creatinine (for daily urine total production estimative), N-urea and total-N, and blood samples for serum urea. A significance level of 5% was adopted. Serum urea, and urine N-urea and total-N excretion of the grazing animals showed no difference (P>0.05) when the additives were used in the concentrate supplementation (Table 1). The low levels of these metabolic parameters for grazing animals indicated an efficient use of the diet metabolizable protein, and the use of additives could not increase this efficiency.

Table 1. Parameters of protein metabolism of Nellore bulls grazing brachiaria grass and receiving concentrated supplement with or without additives

Item

Treatments

CV (%)

P-value

Control

Lipomax®

URbl1 (md/dl)

15.1

14.7

10.3

0.690

Nururine2 (g/d)

35.9

33.0

28.6

0.622

Ntotur3 (g/d)

45.9

55.1

24.8

0.231

1URbl is the blood urea, mg/dl; 2Nururine is the N-urea in urine, g/d, and; 3Ntotur is the N total in urine, g/d.

Keywords: grazing bulls, protein metabolism, tropical environment