Effect of ruminally undegradable protein from fish meal on growth and reproduction of peripuberal Brahman bulls1

Abstract

Thirty-nine Brahman bulls (301.7 +/- 4.1 d; 202.7 +/- 4.7 kg) were allotted to one of two treatments and fed soybean meal (SBM)- or fish meal (FIS)-based supplements and hay to examine the effects of source of protein on growth and reproductive development. The fish meal supplement had 72% ruminally undegradable protein (RUP) and the soybean meal supplement had 47% RUP. Bulls assigned to the FIS treatment had higher (P < .01) total weight gain (81.2 +/- 1.4 vs 71.2 +/- 2.2 kg), higher (P < .01) ADG (.97 +/- .02 vs .85 +/- .03 kg), and better (P < .05) feed:gain ratio (7.6 +/- .1 vs 8.6 +/- .1 feed/BW gain for FIS vs SBM, respectively). Age at first motile spermatozoa was not affected (P > .05) by source of protein (429.9 +/- 9.6 vs 427.2 +/- 9.5 d, for bulls receiving FIS or SBM supplements, respectively). Likewise, age at puberty (473.3 +/- 21.7 d vs 465.9 +/- 12.9 d for bulls receiving FIS and SBM supplements, respectively) was similar for both treatment groups. There were no differences between treatments in scrotal circumference at those stages. At puberty semen quality was similar for bulls receiving FIS or SBM treatments, and no differences existed in LH and testosterone concentrations between treatments. We conclude that fish meal supplement increased growth but did not alter reproductive parameters in Brahman bulls.

Influence of level of dried distillers grains with solubles on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, serum testosterone concentrations, and spermatozoa motility and concentration of growing rams1

“…Dried distillers grains with solubles are often used as a source of RUP; however, care must be taken when feeding DDGS due to the increased sulfur content. Therefore, the increased sulfur content of the DDGS may have led to the contradicting results between the current study and Rocha et al (1995). Excessive sulfur intake may be toxic and could cause decreased animal performance and possibly induce polioencephalomalacia (PEM) and death (Gould, 1998).…”

“…However, the cause of this numerical reduction is not readily apparent. Rocha et al (1995) did not observe any deleterious effects on spermatozoa motility or semen volume when using fish meal as a rumen undegradable protein (RUP) source. Although there was no treatment × day interaction for spermatozoa concentration, the 15DDGS rams had numerically reduced spermatozoa concentrations on d 98 compared with d 112 (0.34 vs. 0.82 billions of spermatozoa/mL), which may have led to the reduced motility score.…”

Desarrollo testicular y pubertad de la raza guzerat desde el destete hasta los 36 meses de edad bajo condiciones de manejo extensivo en la sierra minera

“…Touros da raça guzerá chegam à puberdade mais tardiamente do que foi relatado em várias raças Bos taurus Indicus (41,42). Neste estudo observou-se que os animais da raça guzerá atingem a puberdade em média aos 19,6 meses de idade com 22,8 cm, provavelmente as diferenças se devam à composição racial, genótipo, e gestão-manejo .…”

Avaliação das Farinhas de Peixe e Pena, no Confinamento de Bezerros Leiteiros Desmamados, Através de Dietas Calculadas em Termos de Proteína Bruta ou de Proteína Metabolizável

“…Resultados semelhantes também foram determinados por Brosh et al (1990), Petit et al (1991) e Rocha et al (1995), que constataram uma melhor conversão alimentar para os animais alimentados com a farinha de peixe, quando comparada com o farelo de soja. No entanto, Smith et al (1985), Steen (1985) e Comerford et al (1992) observaram conversões alimentares semelhantes para a farinha de peixe e o farelo de soja.…”