Different fat sources in supplements for beef cattle at pasture
Lucien Bissi da Freiria1, Joanis Tilemahos Zervoudakis2, Nelcino Francisco de Paula2
1Instituto Federal de Rondônia, Colorado Do Oeste, Rondônia, Brazil. lucien.freiria@ifro.edu.br.
Tropical Animal Health and Production
|April 18, 2022
Summary
Fat supplementation in grazing beef cattle did not affect nutrient intake or digestibility, except for increased ether extract (EE) intake and digestibility. Different fat sources, including rumen-protected oils, had no impact on ruminal parameters or nitrogen balance.
Area of Science:
- Animal Nutrition
- Ruminant Physiology
- Beef Cattle Production
Background:
- Dietary fat supplementation is a strategy to enhance energy density in beef cattle diets.
- Understanding the impact of different fat sources (free vs. rumen-protected) on nutrient utilization is crucial for optimizing cattle performance.
- Rumen-protected fats aim to bypass ruminal degradation, potentially improving fatty acid absorption and metabolic efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of free and rumen-protected fat supplementation on nutrient intake and digestibility in grazing beef cattle.
- To compare the efficacy of different fat sources, including palm oil and soybean oil, on nutrient utilization.
- To assess the impact of fat supplementation on ruminal parameters and nitrogen balance in Nelore bulls.
Main Methods:
- Five rumen-cannulated Nelore bulls were used in a 5x5 Latin square design.
- Treatments included no added fat (WF), rumen-protected palm oil (PA), rumen-protected soybean oil (PS), soybean-free oil (SO), and corn-free oil (CO).
- Nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), serum urea, and nitrogen balance were measured.
Main Results:
- Fat supplementation increased ether extract (EE) intake and digestibility, regardless of the fat source.
- No significant differences were observed in the intake or digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), or total digestible nutrients (TDN) between treatments.
- Ruminal parameters (pH, NH3-N), serum urea, and nitrogen balance remained unaffected by fat supplementation or source.
Conclusions:
- Supplementing grazing beef cattle with either free or rumen-protected fats at the specified levels does not negatively impact overall nutrient intake and digestibility.
- While EE utilization improves with fat supplementation, other major nutrient parameters are maintained, suggesting no adverse effects on rumen function or nitrogen metabolism.
- The choice between free and rumen-protected fat sources may not significantly alter nutrient utilization in this specific grazing system, warranting further investigation into economic and performance outcomes.
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