PSXII-23 Performance of Nellore Bulls Fed Snaplage in Fishing Diets

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of snaplage on fecal characteristics, feeding behavior, and performance in fishing bulls. Seventy-two single-sourced Nellore bulls (initial shrunk BW = 400 ± 27.4 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments (3 bulls per pen; 8 pen replicates per treatment). Treatments consisted of finishing diets with the following sources of fiber and energy: 1) corn silage, reconstituted corn grain silage, and dry-ground corn (CONTROL), 2) snaplage (inclusion of 65% of DM) and dry-ground corn (SNAP65), and 3) snaplage only (inclusion of 85% of DM; SNAP85). All diets contained the same inclusion of soybean meal, cotton meal, urea, and mineral mix. Diets were formulated using NASEM (2016) to provide an ADG of 1.8 kg/d. Bulls were adapted to the finishing diets over a 15-d period and fed for a total of 86 d. Fecal samples were collected on d 42, 65, and 73. Feeding behavior was assessed on d 51 and 69. Statistical analysis of experimental data was performed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. An α of 0.05 determined significance and an α of 0.06 to 0.10 was considered a tendency. No differences were obtained for initial BW, G:F, hot carcass, and dressing. SNAP85 had a greater intake, followed by SNAP65 and CONTROL diets (P = 0.02). There was a tendency of greater ADG and final BW (P = 0.07 and 0.08, respectively) for SNAP65 diets (2.0 kg/d and 572 kg), followed by SNAP85 (1.95 kg/d and 567 kg) and CONTROL (1.85 kg/d and 558 kg). A tendency (P = 0.07) was also observed for greater ribeye area in bulls consuming SNAP65 (85 cm2), followed by CONTROL (81 cm2), and SNAP85 (77 cm2). Bulls consuming SNAP65 and SNAP85 spent more time chewing (on average, 249 min/d) than those consuming CONTROL diets (177 min/d; P = 0.01). Regarding fecal characteristics, pH and fecal starch were greater for SNAP85 (P = 0.01 for both variables). Overall, snaplage is a suitable ingredient for high-starch diets for providing energy and physically effective fiber. The inclusion of 65% of snaplage and 20% of dry-ground corn (DM basis) showed a slight superior performance in Nellore bulls.