Organic additives in concentrate supplementation of beef cattle grazing Aditivos orgânicos no suplemento concentrado de bovinos de corte mantidos em pastagem

Organic additives have relevant potential for substitution of antibiotic or ionophorus used in supplements of beef cattle on grazing to increase the heard efficiency and also to avoid sanitary and environmental problems. Thirty zebu cattle of Nellore breed with average initial body weight of 228 +/- kg and approximately 12 months of age were designed in a total random experiment, remaining groups of five animals in six areas of 1.0 ha each of Brachiaria brizantha grass to evaluate the performance in grazing beef cattle with the use of organic additives in the protein-energy supplementation. The treatments were three types of supplements (600 g/animal/d): SC = Control supplement, comprehending a commercial supplement, Premiphos Campo Extra; AGE = SC added an organic mix of commercial essential fatty acids, the Fator Premium and AGEF = AGE supplement added with phosphatidylcholine. The experiment was conducted during the rainy season in 87 d with 28 d earlier as adjustment period. There was no significant difference in average weight gain among the animals supplemented with AGE (826.4 g /d) and AGEF (863.2 g /d), but they had superior performance (P&lt;0.05) those animals receiving SC (731,0 g /d). The use of organic additive AGE and the same associated with phosphatidylcholine increased the average daily weight gain of 13 and 18%, respectively, in cattle on Brachiaria brizantha grass pasture with protein-energy supplementation during the rainy season period, indicating improvement in the animal performance in these conditions.<br>Aditivos orgânicos apresentam relevante potencial para a substituição de antibióticos ou ionóforos usados em suplementos de bovinos de corte criados em pastagens, visando aumentar a eficiência do rebanho e, também, evitar problemas sanitários e ambientais. Trinta bovinos da raça Nelore com peso vivo inicial médio de 228 kg (228,6 +/- 9,7) e aproximadamente 12 meses de idade foram distribuídos em experimento inteiramente casualizado, mantendo-se grupos de cinco animais em seis piquetes de capim Brachiaria brizantha com 1,0 ha cada, objetivando-se avaliar o desempenho animal em pastagens com uso de aditivos orgânicos em suplementação protéico-energética. Os tratamentos consistiram em três diferentes tipos de suplementos, fornecidos em 600 g/animal/dia: SC = Suplemento controle, compreendendo o suplemento comercial, Premiphós Campo Extra; AGE = Suplemento controle adicionado de mistura orgânica comercial de ácidos graxos essenciais, o Fator Premium; AGEF = Suplemento AGE enriquecido com fosfatidilcolina. O experimento foi realizado durante o período das águas em 87 dias com 28 dias iniciais de adaptação. Não houve diferença significativa no ganho de peso médio entre animais suplementados com AGE (826,4 g/dia) e AGEF (863,2 g/dia), mas esses apresentaram desempenhos superiores (P&lt;0,05) aos dos animais recebendo SC (731,0 g/dia). O uso do aditivo orgânico com AGE e do mesmo associado fosfatidilcolina promoveu aumento no ganho de peso médio diário de 13 e 18%, respectivamente, em bovinos de corte mantidos em pastagem de capim braquiária recebendo suplementação protéico-energética, durante a estação das águas, indicando melhoria no desempenho dos animais nessas condições

Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Beef Cattle Production in Brazil through Animal Management

Beef cattle production is an important agricultural activity in Brazil, which influences environmental and resource consumption. This study analyzed greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts from 17 farms, representing the Brazil’s productive system and determined possible improvements in the production chain. Methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions were evaluated using the updated Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines for national inventories. The GHG inventory included emissions from animals, feeds, and “cradle-to-farm-gate” operations for animal management. Regression analyses of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) emissions and productive indices were performed to identify possible GHG emission hotspots. The results varied considerably among the farms. The GHG yield ranged from 8.63 to 50.88 CO2eq kg carcass−1. The productive indices of average daily gain (p p = 0.058), and slaughtering age (p p = 0.21). The production chain could be improved through accurate animal management strategies that reduce the slaughtering age and daily weight gain individually or per area using pasture management and strategic animal supplementation, which could subsequently reduce GHG emissions in beef cattle production