Performance, carcass and ruminal fermentation characteristics of heifers fed concentrates differing in energy level and cereal type (corn vs. wheat)

Abstract

A total of 144 beef heifers (218 ± 26.4 kg body weight) were housed in 24 pens (6 animals each) and used in a 168-day feedlot study to evaluate the influence of cereal type and energy level on performance, carcass quality and ruminal fermentation. Four concentrates were formulated according to a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments, with two energy levels (1,452 vs. 1,700 kcal net energy/kg) and two main cereals (wheat vs. corn). Concentrate and straw were offered ad libitum. Concentrate intake and body weight were recorded on days 42, 84, 126 and 168. Ruminal fluid was obtained by ruminocentesis from 3 heifers per pen on days 1, 84 and 168; and carcass weight, classification and yield, were determined in the same animals. Heifers fed high-energy diets had lower intake (6.97 vs. 7.29 kg fresh matter/d; p=0.011), and lower concentrate to gain ratio (5.15 vs. 5.66 kg/kg; p=0.002) than those fed low energy concentrates, and tended (p=0.069) to be heavier along the time. Neither carcass yield and classification, nor ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids nor NH 3 -N concentrations were affected (p>0.050) by energy level. Total volatile fatty acids concentration tended (p=0.070) to be greater in heifers fed corn-based than wheat-based concentrates. No energy level x cereal type interactions were observed. These results indicate that high energy concentrates decreased feed intake and feed conversion but had minor effects on carcass performance. Cereal type had no effects on performance and ruminal fermentation and no interactions between cereal type and energy were detected.Additional keywords: beef cattle; ruminal pH; volatile fatty acids; in vitro fermentation. Abbreviations used: ADG (average daily gain); BW (body weight); cADI (concentrate average daily intake); DM (dry matter); F:G (concentrate to gain ratio); FM (fresh matter); NDF (neutral detergent fibre); NE (net energy); SARA (subacute ruminal acidosis); VFA (volatile fatty acids).

Variability and Potential of Seaweeds as Ingredients of Ruminant Diets: An In Vitro Study

“…These seaweeds had both low N content (ranging from 6.03 g/kg DM in Saccharina latissima to 14.6 g/kg DM in Palmaria palmata ) and low proportions of minor VFA (1.20 in Alaria esculenta to 2.72% in Saccharina latissima ), which would indicate low protein degradation. Interestingly, these seaweed samples promoted a high-propionate fermentation pattern (≥32.7% propionate), suggesting that the low NH 3 -N concentrations could also have been due to a high NH 3 -N capture by ruminal microorganisms, as was reported to occur in ruminants fed diets based on high-cereal concentrates [31,38].…”

Feeding Agroindustrial Byproducts to Light Lambs: Influence on Growth Performance, Diet Digestibility, Nitrogen Balance, Ruminal Fermentation, and Plasma Metabolites

“…The reasons for the trend (p = 0.092) to darker color of the ruminal epithelium in the lambs fed the BYP-concentrate are unclear. A darker color of ruminal epithelium is usually associated to keratinized tissue [35], but the lack of differences between the two groups of lambs in both growth performance and most ruminal parameters indicate that ruminal absorption was not negatively affected in the BYP-fed lambs.…”

Mineral Composition and Baking Value of the Winter Wheat Grain under Varied Environmental and Agronomic Conditions

“…e grain of wheat, the most important crop, next to rice, corn, and soybean [4], is allocated for human consumption and for animal feed. After processing, it is used for flour, groats, cereals, pastas, and bread or added to other food and feed products [5][6][7][8]. It essentially affects the health of people and livestock [9].…”