Author(s): FIDELIS, A. dos S.; BRITO, J. I. M.; KIPERT, T. A.; ASSIS, H. de F.; PEREIRA, D. H.; PEDREIRA, B. C. e; PRADO, T. A.; BATISTA, E. D.

Summary: The objective was to evaluate the effects of high intake supplementation containing different additives on behavior of Nelore bulls grazing during dry season. Four Nelore bulls (425 ± 79.3 kg body weight, BW) fitted with ruminal cannula were studied in a 4 × 4 balanced Latin square design. Animals were distributed in 0.2 ha paddocks of Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Piatã, where they received protein-energy supplementation (160 g kg-1 crude protein). Treatments included the additives: 1) virginiamycin at 70 mg kg-1 dry matter (DM); 2) ADV: Advantage 4.1 (Alltech) at 1.25 g kg-1 DM, a yeast-based additive as replacement of virginiamycin; 3) TAN14: ByPro® (Silvateam Brasil) at 1.4 g kg-1 DM, a quebracho tannin extract as replacement of virginiamycin; and 4) TAN21: ByPro® at 2.1 g kg-1 DM as replacement of virginiamycin. All supplements contained salinomycin at 2.5 mg kg-1. Supplementation was provided ad libitum every day at 8h00. Experimental periods lasted 20 days. The grazing behavior was evaluated on day 14 from 6h00 until 18h00, observing the animals in each five minutes (min). The evaluated parameters were: standing ruminating, lying ruminating, standing drinking water, standing grazing, standing eating supplement, and idle time. Statistical analyses were performed using a mixed procedure. Contrasts were used to compare control vs. others additives (ADV + TAN14 + TAN21); ADV vs. TAN (TAN14 + TAN21); and TAN14 vs. TAN21. There were no effects of treatments (P>0.05) on standing ruminating (5 ± 3.6 min), lying ruminating (60 ± 16.6 minutes), standing drinking water (11 ± 2.9 min), standing grazing (246 ± 43.5 min), and idle time (323 ± 37.6 min). Nevertheless, time expend eating supplement exhibited a tendency to be greater (P=0.07) in bulls receiving VIR (59 min) compared to bulls receiving ADV and TAN additives (averaging, 81 min). We conclude that grazing behavior of Nellore bulls during dry season receiving high intake supplementation containing Advantage 4.1 or ByPro additives does not differ of virginiamycin, except increase the time to eat supplement.

Publication year: 2018

Types of publication: Abstract in annals or event proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Agrosilvopastoral

Keywords: Cattle, Dietary supplements, Virginiamycin, Yeasts