Effect of diurnal feeding times and sources of energy supplementation to optimise rearing of F1 Angus × Nellore young bulls

Abstract

Context Energy supplementation with highly fermentable carbohydrates can be a strategy to maximise the efficiency of nitrogen use (ENU) from high-nutritional value forages. Aims The study aimed to investigate the independent or associated effects of two diurnal feeding times (0900 or 1700 hours) with two sources of energy supplementation (corn or citrus pulp) in the growing of F1 Angus × Nellore young bulls on palisade grass pastures, and their implications on the forage chemical composition, nutrient intake and digestibility, ENU, microbial protein synthesis, animal performance, and gain per area. Methods There were 36 bulls used as experimental animals, with initial bodyweight (BW) of 290 ± 5 kg, and 32 similar bulls were used in a put-and-take system to maintain sward characteristics. The experiment was conducted in a complete randomised design with four treatments and three replications (paddocks). The treatments consisted of energy supplementation at 0.3% BW with corn or citrus pulp fed at 0900 or 1700 hours for four periods of 28 days. For evaluation of ruminal and blood parameters, ENU, intake, and nutrient digestibility, eight ruminal cannulated 1/2 Aberdeen Angus × 1/2 Nellore young bulls were used, with 280 ± 7 kg of initial BW, distributed in a 4 × 4 double Latin square design, consisting of four periods and four treatments. Key results Supplementation at 0.3% of BW with corn or citrus pulp at 0900 or 1700 hours can reach up to 1.06 kg/day of young bulls reared on palisade grass pastures fertilised with 180 kg nitrogen/ha/year and managed at 25 cm of height compared with corn-based supplements. There were no effects on microbial protein synthesis or its efficiency. Conclusions Citrus pulp can be used as an alternative energy source to corn, because it has the same potential for animal performance, ENU and microbial protein synthesis in tropical pastures with a high proportion of soluble protein, and structural and non-fibrous carbohydrates with high dry matter digestibility. Implications Supplementing grazing beef cattle at 0.3% BW with corn or citrus pulp in the morning or afternoon is an efficient nutritional strategy to improve animal performance.