PSII-B-18 Açai Seed as Fiber Source on Intake, Digestibility and Ruminal Parameters in Zebu Beef Cattle fed a High Concentrate Diet

• Published in: Journal of animal science Vol. 100; no. Supplement_3; pp. 361 - 362
• Main Authors: Mezzomo, Rafael, Lacerda, Natalia G, Engle, Terry E, Alves, Kaliandra S, Oliveira, Luis Rennan S, Vargas, Julian Andrés C, Sousa, Letícia S, Coelho, Kalita Gabrielly S, Bisbo, Shara Amélia S, Lima, Silvana S, Gama, Mariana Mirtes L, Gomes, Daiany I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 22.09.2022
• Subjects: Poster Presentations
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac247.659

Abstract This study was designed to evaluate the effects of açaí seed (AS) as a fiber source on intake, digestibility, and ruminal fermentation parameters of beef cattle fed a high concentrate diet. Five rumen-fistulated Zebu bulls were used in a 5x5 Latin-square design. Treatments consisted of five diets with different inclusion rates of AS: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of the diet dry matter (DM). The total mixed ration contained 75% of concentrate and 25% of roughage. Mombasa grass silage and AS were used as the roughage sources. The concentrate portion of the diet contained cracked corn (61.8%), soybean meal (8%) and vitamin/mineral premix (5.2% of DM). Each experimental period lasted 25 d and the last 11 d were used for data collection. Total fecal collections were performed over three days. Titanium dioxide was used to estimate the omasal outflow. Statistical significance was declared at P < 0.05, and tendency at 0.05 > P < 0.10. A linear increase was observed for DM (P= 0.07), organic matter (P < 0.05), crude protein (CP, P < 0.05), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake with the inclusion rate of AS. Intake was greatest in bulls receiving diets containing 20% AS. A linear decrease (P< 0.05) in NDF digestibility was detected with the inclusion rate of AS. DM, CP digestibility, and metabolic energy were similar across treatments (P > 0.10). Ruminal and intestinal DM and nutrient digestibility were similar between the treatments (P > 0.10). Rumen concentrations of acetic acid increased (P < 0.05), and total short-chain fatty acids (P = 0.07) and butyrate (P = 0.08) tended to increase linearly with the inclusion of AS. Açaí seed as a source of fiber in confined Zebu bulls diets alters DM intake and rumen fermentation but has no impact on total tract DM digestibility.