Impact of replacing protein pellets with soybean grain on nutrient utilization and the rumen and blood parameters of feedlot cattle under tropical conditions.

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of replacing protein pellets with soybean grain in high-concentrate diets with or without the addition of silage, on the intake, digestibility, and rumen and blood parameters of feedlot cattle in tropical regions. Four cannulated, crossbred steers were used, 4.5 ± 0.5 years old, with an average weight of 685.55 ± 111.78 kg. The steers were distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square, in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme (two sources of protein: protein pellets or whole soybean grain, with or without added dietary bulk). There was no effect (P ≥ 0.109) from the interaction between the source of protein and the addition of silage to the diet on dry matter (DM) and nutrient intake, or the digestibility (P ≥ 0.625) of DM or crude protein (CP). However, both factors affected (P ≤ 0.052) the intake of DM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC), as well as the independent digestibility (P ≤ 0.099) of fat, NFC, total carbohydrates (TC), and total cholesterol concentration. There was an effect (P ≤ 0.053) from the interaction between the source of protein and the addition of silage to the diet on the digestibility of NDF and total digestible nutrients (TDN), as well as on the glycose concentration (P = 0.003). Blood parameters (i.e. protein, albumin, creatinine, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)) were not affected (P ≥ 0.139) by the source of protein, the addition of silage, or their interaction. Lastly, including 150 g/kg silage DM in a high-grain diet, and using soybean grain as a source of protein in substitution of protein pellet could be a suitable nutritional strategy to ensure adequate DM and nutrient intake and digestibility, with no detrimental effects on rumen and blood parameters of feedlot cattle in the tropics.

Soybean meal in diets for juveniles of pirarucu / Farelo de soja na dieta de juvenis de pirarucu

In order to assess the effects of replacing fishmeal (FM) protein by soybean meal (SM) for juveniles of pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) feeds, five isonitrogenous (46% CP) and isocaloric (4,800 kcal kg-1 GE) diets containing 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60% replacement were tested. One hundred and five fish (233.5 ± 11.5 g) were distributed in fifteen 200-L tanks, fed three times daily to apparent satiation for 120 days. The highest growth rates were observed in diets with up to 30% replacement, but no significant difference was detected as regards to specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, mean daily feed intake and mean daily protein intake in fish fed diets with up to 45% FM replacement. Survival rate, condition factor, hepatosomatic and viscerosomatic indexes were not influenced by the treatments, just as the biochemical analyses were not, except for cholesterol. Fish fed diets with increasing levels of SM presented lower hematological values, and higher mean corpuscular value, indicating probable anemia at 60% FM replacement and hypocholesterolemia. Diets with 15 and 30% FM replacement were the most cost effective suggesting that SM can replace up to 30% of FM in diets for pirarucu juveniles (200 to 1,200 g), without compromising growth performance, fish health, feed digestibility and feed cost effectiveness.

Para avaliar os efeitos da proteína do farelo de soja (FS), substituindo a proteína da farinha de peixe (FP) na alimentação de juvenis de pirarucu, foram testadas cinco dietas isoproteicas (46% PB) e isocalóricas (4800 kcal kg-1 EB), contendo 0, 15, 30, 45 e 60% de substituição. Cento e cinco exemplares (233,5 ± 11,5 g) foram distribuídos em 15 tanques (200 L), alimentados três vezes ao dia, até saciedade aparente, por 120 dias. Os maiores ganho de peso foram obtidos até 30% de substituição, sem diferenças significativas para taxa de crescimento específico, conversão alimentar aparente, consumo médio diário de ração e consumo médio diário de proteína com até 45% de FS. Não houve diferenças estatísticas para sobrevivência, fator de condição, índice hepatossomático e víscerossomático e nas análises bioquímicas, exceto colesterol. Os valores hematológicos diminuíram com os níveis de substituição, com elevação do volume corpuscular médio, indicando provável quadro de anemia em 60% de FS e de hipocolesterolemia. Dietas com 15 e 30% de FS foram mais viáveis, sugerindo a substituição até 30% da FP pelo FS (inclusão de 22%) em dietas para pirarucu (200 a 1.200 g), sem prejuízos aos parâmetros zootécnicos, saúde dos peixes e menor custo de produção.

Soybean meal in diets for juveniles of pirarucu / Farelo de soja na dieta de juvenis de pirarucu

In order to assess the effects of replacing fishmeal (FM) protein by soybean meal (SM) for juveniles of pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) feeds, five isonitrogenous (46% CP) and isocaloric (4,800 kcal kg-1 GE) diets containing 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60% replacement were tested. One hundred and five fish (233.5 ± 11.5 g) were distributed in fifteen 200-L tanks, fed three times daily to apparent satiation for 120 days. The highest growth rates were observed in diets with up to 30% replacement, but no significant difference was detected as regards to specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, mean daily feed intake and mean daily protein intake in fish fed diets with up to 45% FM replacement. Survival rate, condition factor, hepatosomatic and viscerosomatic indexes were not influenced by the treatments, just as the biochemical analyses were not, except for cholesterol. Fish fed diets with increasing levels of SM presented lower hematological values, and higher mean corpuscular value, indicating probable anemia at 60% FM replacement and hypocholesterolemia. Diets with 15 and 30% FM replacement were the most cost effective suggesting that SM can replace up to 30% of FM in diets for pirarucu juveniles (200 to 1,200 g), without compromising growth performance, fish health, feed digestibility and feed cost effectiveness.(AU)

Para avaliar os efeitos da proteína do farelo de soja (FS), substituindo a proteína da farinha de peixe (FP) na alimentação de juvenis de pirarucu, foram testadas cinco dietas isoproteicas (46% PB) e isocalóricas (4800 kcal kg-1 EB), contendo 0, 15, 30, 45 e 60% de substituição. Cento e cinco exemplares (233,5 ± 11,5 g) foram distribuídos em 15 tanques (200 L), alimentados três vezes ao dia, até saciedade aparente, por 120 dias. Os maiores ganho de peso foram obtidos até 30% de substituição, sem diferenças significativas para taxa de crescimento específico, conversão alimentar aparente, consumo médio diário de ração e consumo médio diário de proteína com até 45% de FS. Não houve diferenças estatísticas para sobrevivência, fator de condição, índice hepatossomático e víscerossomático e nas análises bioquímicas, exceto colesterol. Os valores hematológicos diminuíram com os níveis de substituição, com elevação do volume corpuscular médio, indicando provável quadro de anemia em 60% de FS e de hipocolesterolemia. Dietas com 15 e 30% de FS foram mais viáveis, sugerindo a substituição até 30% da FP pelo FS (inclusão de 22%) em dietas para pirarucu (200 a 1.200 g), sem prejuízos aos parâmetros zootécnicos, saúde dos peixes e menor custo de produção.(AU)