Nutritional plans on the intake, digestibility, and performance of dairy heifers of different breed compositions

Authors

  • Carlos Alberto Alves Oliveira Filho Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, BR 415, Km 03, s/no, Campus Universitário, CEP 45700-000 Itapetinga, BA.
  • Fernanda Samarini Machado Embrapa Gado de Leite, Avenida Eugênio do Nascimento, no 610, CEP 36038-330 Juiz de Fora, MG.
  • Alexandre Lima Ferreira Embrapa Gado de Leite, Avenida Eugênio do Nascimento, no 610, CEP 36038-330 Juiz de Fora, MG.
  • Thierry Ribeiro Tomich Embrapa Gado de Leite, Avenida Eugênio do Nascimento, no 610, CEP 36038-330 Juiz de Fora, MG.
  • Rogério Martins Maurício Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Praça Dom Helvécio, no 74, Campus Dom Bosco, CEP 36301-160 São João del Rei, MG.
  • Mariana Magalhães Campos Embrapa Gado de Leite, Avenida Eugênio do Nascimento, no 610, CEP 36038-330 Juiz de Fora, MG.
  • Camilla Flávia Portela Gomes da Silva Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Baiano, BR 420, s/no, CEP 45320-000 Santa Inês, BA.
  • José Augusto Gomes de Azevêdo Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, Km 16, CEP 45662-900 Ilhéus, BA.
  • Luiz Gustavo Ribeiro Pereira Embrapa Gado de Leite, Avenida Eugênio do Nascimento, no 610, CEP 36038-330 Juiz de Fora, MG.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2018.v53.25097

Keywords:

Gyr, Gyrolando, ingestion, nitrogen balance, weight gain

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of nutritional plans and breed composition on nutrient intake and digestibility, nitrogen balance, and performance of dairy heifers in tropical conditions. Thirty-six heifers – 12 Holstein, 12 Gyr, and 12 Gyrolando F1 (½ Holstein × ½ Gyr) – were housed in a tie-stall system and randomly distributed, adopting a completely randomized design in a 3×3 factorial arrangement (nutritional plans and breed composition). The diets were formulated to enable weight gains of 200, 400, and 800 g per day, corresponding to the nutritional plans 11, 14, and 19 g kg-1 body weight (BW), respectively. The intake of dry matter, fibrous fractions (g kg-1 BW-0.75), and metabolizable energy (kcal-1 BW-0.75) in the 11-g kg-1 plan were greater for Gyr heifers than for Gyrolando and Holstein heifers. Ether extract digestibility was 13.85% higher for Gyr heifers compared with Gyrolando F1 in the 19-g kg-1 plan. The increase in the nutritional plans shows a quadratic response to nutrient intake and a linear response to average daily gain, but does not affect the digestibility coefficients. Gyr and Gyrolando F1 heifers present similar nutritional efficiency to that of Holstein heifers.

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Published

2018-03-16

How to Cite

Oliveira Filho, C. A. A., Machado, F. S., Ferreira, A. L., Tomich, T. R., Maurício, R. M., Campos, M. M., … Pereira, L. G. R. (2018). Nutritional plans on the intake, digestibility, and performance of dairy heifers of different breed compositions. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 53(2), 247–255. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2018.v53.25097

Issue

Section

ANIMAL SCIENCE