The effects of partial substitution of soybean with urea or slow-release urea on finishing performance, meat quality, and digestion parameters of Nellore steers
R. R. Corte A E , F. O. Brito A , P. R. Leme A , A. S. C. Pereira B , J. E. Freitas
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Animal Science, College of Food Engineer and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga, CEP 13635-900, Brazil.
B Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, CEP 13630-000, Brazil.
C Department of Animal Science Federal University of Bahia, Salvador-BA, CEP 40170-110, Brazil.
D Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77854-2471, USA.
E Corresponding author. Email: rscorte@usp.br
Animal Production Science 58(12) 2242-2248 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN16609
Submitted: 9 September 2016 Accepted: 1 August 2017 Published: 10 September 2018
Abstract
The effects of substituting ~50% of the soybeans in the diet of finishing Nellore steers with either urea (U) and/or slow-release urea (SRU) on the steer performance and meat quality were assessed in two experiments. In the first experiment, 46 Nellore steers in a 104-day experiment (Exp. 1) were fed a Control diet with U or SRU or U+SRU. In Experiment 2 (Exp. 2), digestibility and microbial protein (MCP) synthesis were assessed in four steers by using a 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21-day periods. Four corn-based diets were used in both Exp. 1 and 2. (1) Control (CTL): 0% of non-protein nitrogen (NPN). (2) U: 1.66% of NPN. (3) SRU: 1.8% of NPN. (4) U+SRU: 1.72% of NPN. In Exp. 1, final bodyweight, average daily gain, dry matter intake, Gain to Feed ratio, carcass traits and steer meat quality were not influenced by the experimental diets. In Exp. 2, the apparent digestibility was similar for all diets, and the MCP synthesis was affected by dietary treatments (P = 0.065). The NPN treatments showed 25.5% more (P = 0.03) MCP efficiency (g microbial protein/kg of total digestible nutrient content consumed) than the CTL. We conclude that the partial replacement of SBM with U, SRU or U+SRU will provide similar animal performance without negatively impacting carcass and meat quality and improve the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in Nellore cattle.
Additional keywords: beef cattle, Bos indicus, feedlots, nitrogen.
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