| Autor: |
Neto JDP; Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA., Dubeux JCB Jr; North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32443, USA., DiLorenzo N; North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32443, USA., Bretas IL; North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32443, USA., Santos MVFD; Department of Animal Sciences, Universiade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil., Ruiz-Moreno M; North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32443, USA., Cruz PJRD; Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA., Santos ERDS; Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada., Queiroz LMD; North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32443, USA., Oduor KT; North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32443, USA., Vieira MM; North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL 32443, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Limpograss ( Hemarthria altissima ) is a warm-season perennial grass that has the potential to feed livestock during scarcity periods. This study evaluated the intake, nutrient digestibility, and animal performance of beef heifers fed 'Gibtuck' limpograss silage combined with different levels of a range cube supplementation. Twenty-four heifers (330 ± 16 kg live weight) were submitted to four different treatments with 6 replicates: (1) control, no supplementation + limpograss silage ad libitum; (2) 1.4 kg of supplement + limpograss silage ad libitum; (3) 2.8 kg of supplement + limpograss silage ad libitum; and (4) 4.2 kg of supplement + limpograss silage ad libitum. The apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein showed a positive quadratic effect with increasing supplementation levels ( p = 0.001, p = 0.002, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Overall, the supplement improved diet digestibility and total DM intake but reduced silage intake, indicating a combined effect (substitutive and additive effect) of the protein supplement. The increasing level of protein supplement increased the average daily gain with a quadratic effect ( p ≤ 0.0001). Limpograss silage associated with supplementation can improve diet digestibility and increase the animal performance of growing heifers, providing an alternative for livestock in North Florida. |
