Brassica carinata is a new oilseed crop with the potential of producing high-quality jet biofuel. A high-protein meal (~40% crude protein) is obtained as a byproduct of hexane-solvent oil extraction; however, limited research is available on the use of this meal as a protein supplement for beef cattle. A duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design was used to determine the effects of supplementation with B. carinata meal on ruminal fermentation, digestibility, and blood metabolites in beef cattle consuming bahiagrass hay (Paspalum notatum Flüggé), compared with frequently used protein supplements. Eight Angus crossbred steers (473 ± 119 kg initial BW) were randomly allocated to 8 pens, over 4 periods of 28-d each. Within period, steers were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) 1.62 kg/d cottonseed meal (CSM); 2) 2.15 kg/d dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS); 3) 1.39 kg/d B. carinata meal pellets (BCM); or 4) 1.17 kg/d soybean meal (SBM), supplemented daily, on an isonitrogenous basis. Steers had ad libitum access to bahiagrass hay and water. Intake was measured using the GrowSafe system. Following a 14-d adaptation, feed and fecal samples were collected to determine apparent total tract nutrient digestibility using indigestible NDF as an internal marker. Blood and ruminal fluid samples were collected before providing the protein supplements and then every 3 h, during a 24-h period, to analyze urea nitrogen (PUN) and glucose in plasma, as well as ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH 3-N), and VFA concentrations. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS with repeated measures. Model included the fixed effects of treatment, time, treatment × time, square, and period, and the random effects of steer(square) and steer(treatment). No effect of treatment (P > 0.05) was observed for pH, NH 3-N, or glucose concentration. An effect of treatment (P < 0.01) was observed for PUN, with steers receiving SBM having greater concentrations. A treatment × time interaction was observed (P < 0.05) for total VFA concentration, acetate to propionate ratio, and molar proportions of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate. Steers consuming SBM had greater molar proportions of branchedchain VFA (P < 0.01) compared with CSM and DDGS. There was no effect of treatment (P > 0.05) on intake or apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients. Brassica carinata performed similarly to commonly used protein supplements indicating its viability as a protein supplement for beef cattle.

Brassica carinata is a new oilseed crop in Florida with the potential of producing high-quality jet biofuel. A high-protein meal (~40% crude protein; CP) is obtained as a byproduct of oil extraction; however, limited research is available on the utilization of this meal as a protein supplement for beef cattle. A generalized randomized block design was used to evaluate the effects of supplementation with B. carinata meal pellets on performance and attainment of puberty in growing beef heifers consuming bermudagrass hay (Cynodon dactylon) ad libitum. Sixty-four Angus crossbred heifers (240 ± 39 kg initial body weight; BW) were stratified and blocked (2 blocks: light and heavy) by initial BW and randomly allocated into 18 pens over 2 consecutive years (10 in year 1 and 8 in year 2). Within block, pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: 0 (CTL) or 0.3% of BW/d (as fed) of B. carinata meal pellets (BCM). Blood samples and BW were collected weekly for 70 d, before daily supplementation. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS with repeated measures. Model included the fixed effects of treatment, day, treatment × day interactions, block, and block × treatment interactions, with the random effect of year. Plasma was analyzed for concentrations of progesterone, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), ceruloplasmin (Cp), and haptoglobin (Hp). An effect of treatment was observed (P ˂ 0.01) for ADG between CTL (0.14 kg) and BCM (0.42 kg). There was no treatment or block (P > 0.05) effect for concentrations of T3, T4, or Hp; however, there was an effect of day (P < 0.01) for T3, T4, and Cp. An effect of treatment (P ˂ 0.01) was observed for Cp, with CTL having greater concentrations compared with BCM. Time to attainment of puberty did not differ (P = 0.93) between treatments. Feeding B. carinata meal as a protein supplement at 0.3% of BW/d is a viable option for increasing ADG of growing beef heifers, without affecting attainment of puberty, thyroid hormone status, or eliciting an acute phase response.

No abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if supplementation frequency of rumen-protected fat (RPF) influences circulating serum concentrations of fatty acids (FA), NEFA, and urea nitrogen in beef heifers and lactating cows. In Exp. 1, 12 early gestation beef heifers were supplemented 0.5 kg of corn gluten feed (CGF) daily during a 2-wk adaptation period. During the last 3 d of adaptation, blood samples were collected immediately before supplementation and then 8 and 16 h postsupplementation daily. Each heifer was then randomly assigned to 1 of 3 supplementation frequency treatments of RPF (3, 5, or 7 d/wk) for 3 wk in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3 periods (4 heifers per treatment per period), with each treatment receiving the same amount of RPF and CGF per wk (1.0 and 2.7 kg as fed, respectively). Blood samples were collected during the final 3 d of each supplementation period as described in the adaptation period. In Exp. 2, 18 Angus crossbred cows in early lactation were supplemented with 4.54 kg (as fed) of CGF weekly either at 3, 5, or 7 d/wk during a 2-wk adaptation period. Blood samples were collected during the last 3 d of adaptation as in Exp. 1. For the subsequent 3 wk, RPF (530, 318, and 227 g/d when supplemented) was added to the CGF supplement so that each supplementation frequency received 1.59 kg as fed/wk of RPF. Blood samples were collected during the last 3 d of supplementation as in Exp. 1. Serum FA profiles on a random subsample of 9 heifers in Exp. 1 and all animals in Exp. 2 were determined via gas chromatograph (GC), and values were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. In Exp. 1, there were no differences ( ≥ 0.53) in serum FA profile across supplementation frequencies. There was a decrease in serum 18:2, 18:1 -9 and total FA during the sampling time (time effect, < 0.02). In Exp. 2, there was treatment × time effect ( ≤ 0.001) for both 18:2 and total FA measured. The 7 d/wk frequency had a greater concentration of C18:2 and total FA at 8 h of the sampling period when compared to the other 2 frequencies. These results demonstrate that supplementation of RPF at 3, 5 or 7 d/wk resulted in no changes in serum FA profiles in growing heifers. In early lactating beef cows, there were minor time point changes in serum FA due to supplementation frequency; however, the vast majority of time points were not different, indicating no substantial changes in serum FA profiles.