Backgrounding steers on temperate grasses mixed with vetch and/or using energy supplementation

Objective The aim was to evaluate backgrounding beef steers on oat + ryegrass pastures mixed with vetch and/or using energy supplementation. Methods A randomized block design with three treatments and three replications was used. The treatments were: grass + supplement (oat + ryegrass + supplementation), legume + supplement (oat + ryegrass + vetch + supplementation) and grass + legume (oat + ryegrass + vetch). A continuous grazing system with a variable stocking rate was used. Twenty-seven intact crossbred steers (1/4 Marchigiana, 1/4 Aberdeen Angus and 2/4 Nellore) aged 7 months old and average weight of 190 kg were used. Steers were supplemented at 1% of the body weight of ground corn. The experiment lasted 84 days, between May and August 2014. Behavioral assessments were performed two times per experimental period, for 24 hours. Results The forage mass was different between treatments, being greater for steers fed without legume. The accumulation rate, forage allowance, and stocking rate did not differ between treatments due to the adequate adjustment of forage allowance. The final weight of animals, as well as the dry matter intake (kg/d), did not differ between treatments. However, forage intake was higher for non-supplemented animals in relation to supplemented steers. Supplement intake did not alter the total digestible nutrient intake due to pasture quality. Animals fed grass + supplement had higher live weight gain per area than those fed grass + legume. Animals without supplementation spent more time in grazing. Conclusion Feeding behavior was not altered by mixing with vetch or supplementation. Non-supplemented animals started the grazing peak earlier and spent more time in grazing than those supplemented; however, the average daily gain was similar between treatments. The live weight gain per hectare was 47% higher in pastures in which the animals received supplementation compared with those mixed with vetch, a consequence of the substitutive effect

Beef steers finishing on pasture of Aruana grass overseeded with oats and ryegrass associated with legume and/or nitrogen fertilization

The objective was to evaluate finishing of beef steers in Aruana pasture overseeded with oats and ryegrass and mixed with legume with or no nitrogen fertilization. The design was completely randomized, with three treatments and three replications. Three forage systems have been tested tested in winter, based on Aruana fodder (Panicum maximum, cv. Aruana) mixed with oats and ryegrass: 'Nitrogen' (N) -200 kg of N ha-1; Forage peanut and 100 kg of N ha-1; Vetch and 100 kg of N ha-1. The fertilization was shared in five applications, for 127 days. The continuous stocking system was used, with variable stocking rate, and forage on offer of 9,0 kg/100 kg of live weight. The grazing was managed with 24 castrated animals of 21 months,425 kg of initial avarage live weight. Being 18 testers and six regulators. Evaluations of forage and animal performance were made every 21 days. For animal behavior, the evaluations were done twice in each period, for 24 hours. The highest level of nitrogen fertilization showed differences in pasture structure, however, the forage daily production was similar between the treatments. The grazing time on mixture with vetch was superior for Forage peanut and similar to the others when fertilization was 200 kg of N ha-1, although, the average daily gain was similar for both treatments. The time of 20 bites and the number of steps per minute were higher for higher nitrogen fertilization, when compared to the peanut intercropping, and similar to those when mixed with vetch. Although the peanut consortium associated with 100 kg of N ha-1 caused a reduction in grazing time and presented a longer rumination time, there were no differences in the productive performance and carcass characteristics of the finished animals.CAPESO trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar a terminação de bovinos de corte em pastagem de Capim Aruana sobressemeado com aveia e azevém associados à leguminosa e/ou adubação nitrogenada. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e três repetições. Foram testados três sistemas forrageiros no período de inverno,tendo como base a pastagem de Aruana (Panicum maximum, cv.Aruana) sobressemeado com aveia e azevém: ‘Nitrogênio’ (N) –200 kg de N ha-1; Amendoim forrageiro e 100 kg de N ha-1; Ervilhaca e 100 kg de N ha-1. A adubação foi dividida em cinco aplicações, o período experimental foi de 127 dias. Foi utilizado o sistema de lotação continua, com carga animal variável, a oferta de forragem preconizada de 9,0 kg/100 kg de peso vivo. A pastagem foi manejada utilizando-se de 24 animais castrados de 21 meses, com peso vivo médio inicial de 425 kg, destes 18 foram teste e seis reguladores. As avaliações da forragem e do desempenho animal foram realizadas a cada 21 dias. A avaliação do comportamento animal foi realizada duas vezes por período, durante 24 horas em cada avaliação. O maior nível de adubação nitrogenada proporcionou diferenças na estrutura da pastagem, porém a produção diária de forragem foi semelhante entre os tratamentos. O tempo de pastejo na consorciação com ervilhaca foi superior ao amendoim forrageiro e semelhante aos demais na adubação com 200 kg de N ha-1, no entanto, o ganho médio diário foi semelhante para os tratamentos. O tempo de 20 bocados e o número de passos por minuto foram superiores na maior adubação nitrogenada quando comparado a consorciação com amendoim,e semelhante à estes na consorciação com ervilhaca. Embora o consórcio com amendoim associado a 100 kg de N ha-1 tenha causado redução no tempo de pastejo e apresentado maior tempo de ruminação, não ocorreram diferenças no desempenho produtivo e nas características de carcaça dos animais em terminação

Legume inclusion or nitrogen fertilization on Aruana grass overseeded with temperate grasses: Performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid profile of the meat of beef steers

The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of the use of legume (Arachis pintoi) or nitrogen fertilization on animal performance, characteristics of carcass and meat, and fatty acids profile of crossbred steers on Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruana pasture, overseeded with temperate grasses. The experimental design was completely randomized, with three treatments and three replicates. The experiment was carried out from June to October (127 d). The treatments were: Low-N: 100 kg of N/ha; Medium-N: 200 kg of N/ha; and Legume: Arachis pintoi + 100 kg of N/ha. The pasture with higher nitrogen fertilization (N200) showed a more significant forage mass yield. The mixed grass with legumes presented a higher concentration of saturated fatty acids and saturated:unsaturated ratio in the meat. However, the grass pastures resulted in a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids in the meat. The other pasture variables, and characteristics of carcass and meat were not influenced by the treatments. The increase in nitrogen fertilization, from 100 to 200 kg/ha, and Arachis pintoi mixed with Aruana grass pasture overseeded with black oat and ryegrass does not affect the daily weight gain and the carcass and meat characteristics of the steers. The grass-legume mixture decreases the total concentration of unsaturated fatty acids in meat without influencing the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acid

Performance and fatty acid profile of Holstein calves slaughtered at different weights

Our objective was to evaluate performance and fatty acid contents of the meat of Holstein veal fed in feedlots and slaughtered at four different pre-determined live weights (140, 180, 220, and 260 kg). Twenty-three non-castrated calves with initial average ages of 58 days and 57 kg live weight were used in this study. Average daily gain, dry matter intake, nutrient intake, cold carcass weight, cold carcass yield, scraps, and fat thickness improved with increasing slaughter weight. However, C18:0, C22:0, C18:2Trans10Cis12, C18:1n9Cis acids, sum of unsaturated fatty acids, and lipid content decreased with the increase in slaughter weight. Raising the slaughter weight of Holstein calves from 144 to 260 kg improves the performance of animals, mainly due to the increase in their intake capacity. However, this increase in slaughter weight does not result in significant changes in the fatty acid composition of the mea

Erratum to: Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition) (Autophagy, 12, 1, 1-222, 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356

non present