Soybean molasses can be used as a substitute for corn in grazing beef cattle supplements during the rainy season.

Soybean molasses (SBMO) is a byproduct derived from the production of soy protein concentrate, obtained through solubilization in water and alcohol. The utilization of SBMO as an animal feed ingredient shows promising potential, primarily due to its low cost and as a potential energy concentrate. This study aimed to assess the intake, digestibility, ruminal parameters (pH and ruminal ammonia - NH3), nitrogen retention (NR) and microbial protein synthesis in grazing beef cattle supplemented with SBMO as a substitute for corn during the rainy season. Five Nellore (10-month-old) bulls with an average initial weight of 246 ± 11.2 kg were utilized in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. The animals were housed in five paddocks, each consisting of 0.34 ha of Marandu grass (Urochloa brizantha). Five isonitrogenous protein-energy supplements (300 g crude protein [CP]/kg supplement) were formulated, with SBMO replacing corn at varying levels (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.00 g-1 g). The supplements were provided daily at a quantity of 2.0 kg-1 animal. The inclusion of SBMO at any level of corn substitution did not significantly affect the intake of pasture dry matter or total dry matter (P > 0.10). Likewise, the intake of CP and, consequently, the ruminal concentration of NH3 did not differ among the SBMO levels. Increasing the inclusion of SBMO did not have a significant impact on NR (P > 0.10), indicating that animals receiving supplements containing 100% SBMO as a substitute for corn may perform similarly to animals receiving supplements with 100% corn (0% SBMO). Soybean molasses represents a viable alternative energy source for grazing beef cattle during the rainy season and can entirely replace corn without adversely affecting animal nutritional performance.

Prediction of pasture intake by beef cattle in tropical conditions.

Forage intake is the most important factor for beef cattle raised on pasture, as it is the basis of the diet. Thus, knowing the variables that affect this parameter can help supplementation programs. Thus, a meta-analytic study was conducted to develop and evaluate models for the prediction of pasture dry matter intake (DMIpasture) by beef cattle in tropical conditions. Eight hundred four individual observations of DMIpasture were used, taken from 23 studies through analysis of mixed models, including the study as a random effect. To evaluate the accuracy and precision of the new models proposed as well as for the models of Azevedo et al. (2016) and Minson and McDonald (1987), an independent databank with 87 means from treatments of 21 experiments (n = 888 animals) was used. Three prediction models were adjusted: model I (animal information), model II (animal information + supplement), and model III (animal information + supplement + pasture). The proposed models presented similarity for the average square root of the prediction error. The inclusion of the predictive variables for supplementation (supplement dry matter intake - DMIsupplement - % of the body weight and crude protein intake through supplement) with the variables for the animal (BW0.75 and average daily gain) and of the pasture (% of crude protein) in model III improved accuracy and precision and provided higher determination and correlation coefficients, and agreement than the other proposed models. Similarly, it was found to be more accurate and precise than the equations of Azevêdo et al. (2016) and Minson and McDonald (1987), which presented lower precision. The DMIpasture for beef cattle in tropical conditions is more accurate and precise when the information for the animal, supplement, and pasture is included.

Glicerina bruta para bovinos de corte em pastejo no período das águas: viabilidade produtiva e econômica / Crude glycerin for beef cattle at pasture in rainy season: productive and economic viability

Avaliou-se o efeito da substituição do milho pela glicerina bruta (GB) sobre o desempenho e a viabilidade econômica em bovinos de corte mantidos a pasto no período das águas. Foram utilizados 30 animais com peso corporal médio inicial de 238,6±21,24kg distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado entre os tratamentos: suplementação mineral e suplementação concentrada (1,0kg/animal, 30% PB) com 0; 33; 66 e 100% de GB em substituição ao milho. O fornecimento de suplementos proteico-energéticos proporcionou maior ganho médio diário (GMD) e peso corporal (PC) final em relação aos que receberam suplementação mineral. O incremento no GMD foi em média de 0,200 kg por dia. Não houve efeito dos níveis de substituição do milho sobre o GMD cujos ganhos foram de 0,817; 1,042; 1,064 e 1,005, respectivamente, para os níveis 0, 33, 66 e 100%. O fornecimento de 1,0kg de suplementos proteicoenergéticos contendo 30% de proteína bruta melhorou o desempenho de bovinos de corte a pasto no período das águas, reduzindo o tempo de ocupação da pastagem quando comparado com animais que recebem apenas suplementação mineral. Pode-se substituir 100% do milho pela GB sem que haja queda no desempenho dos animais sendo que a substituição de até 66% do milho pela GB mostrou-se economicamente viável.

The effect of replacing corn by crude glycerin (GB) on the performance and economic viability of beef cattle at pasture in the rainy season was evaluated. A total of 30 animals with average body weight (BW) of 238.6 ± 21.24 kg in a completely randomized design between treatments: mineral supplement and concentrate supplementation (1.0 kg/animal, 30% CP) with 0, 33, 66 and 100% of GB replacing corn. The supply of protein-energy supplements increased average daily gain (ADG) and final BW than those who received only mineral supplements. The increase in ADG was 0.200 kg/day. No effect of the levels replacement of corn on ADG that provided gains of 0.817, 1.042, 1.064 and 1.005, respectively, for 0, 33, 66 and 100%. The supply of 1.0 kg of protein-energy supplements containing 30% CP improves the performance of the pasture beef cattle during the wet, reducing the pasture occupation time compared to animals receiving only mineral supplementation. The crude glycerin can replace 100% of the corn in supplements offered in the proportion of 0.45% of BW without decrease animal performance. When the price of crude glycerin represent 54% of the price of corn to replace up to 66% of the corn showed to be economically viable.

Glicerina bruta para bovinos de corte em pastejo no período das águas: viabilidade produtiva e econômica / Crude glycerin for beef cattle at pasture in rainy season: productive and economic viability

Avaliou-se o efeito da substituição do milho pela glicerina bruta (GB) sobre o desempenho e a viabilidade econômica em bovinos de corte mantidos a pasto no período das águas. Foram utilizados 30 animais com peso corporal médio inicial de 238,6±21,24kg distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado entre os tratamentos: suplementação mineral e suplementação concentrada (1,0kg/animal, 30% PB) com 0; 33; 66 e 100% de GB em substituição ao milho. O fornecimento de suplementos proteico-energéticos proporcionou maior ganho médio diário (GMD) e peso corporal (PC) final em relação aos que receberam suplementação mineral. O incremento no GMD foi em média de 0,200 kg por dia. Não houve efeito dos níveis de substituição do milho sobre o GMD cujos ganhos foram de 0,817; 1,042; 1,064 e 1,005, respectivamente, para os níveis 0, 33, 66 e 100%. O fornecimento de 1,0kg de suplementos proteicoenergéticos contendo 30% de proteína bruta melhorou o desempenho de bovinos de corte a pasto no período das águas, reduzindo o tempo de ocupação da pastagem quando comparado com animais que recebem apenas suplementação mineral. Pode-se substituir 100% do milho pela GB sem que haja queda no desempenho dos animais sendo que a substituição de até 66% do milho pela GB mostrou-se economicamente viável.(AU)

The effect of replacing corn by crude glycerin (GB) on the performance and economic viability of beef cattle at pasture in the rainy season was evaluated. A total of 30 animals with average body weight (BW) of 238.6 ± 21.24 kg in a completely randomized design between treatments: mineral supplement and concentrate supplementation (1.0 kg/animal, 30% CP) with 0, 33, 66 and 100% of GB replacing corn. The supply of protein-energy supplements increased average daily gain (ADG) and final BW than those who received only mineral supplements. The increase in ADG was 0.200 kg/day. No effect of the levels replacement of corn on ADG that provided gains of 0.817, 1.042, 1.064 and 1.005, respectively, for 0, 33, 66 and 100%. The supply of 1.0 kg of protein-energy supplements containing 30% CP improves the performance of the pasture beef cattle during the wet, reducing the pasture occupation time compared to animals receiving only mineral supplementation. The crude glycerin can replace 100% of the corn in supplements offered in the proportion of 0.45% of BW without decrease animal performance. When the price of crude glycerin represent 54% of the price of corn to replace up to 66% of the corn showed to be economically viable.(AU)