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The objective of this study was to determine requirements of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K) and sodium (Na) for grazing zebu bovines. The experiment area was composed of Brachiaria decumbens paddocks. Twenty-seven non-castrated animals, with initial live weight of 311.0 kg and at an average age of 14 months were used. Three animals were slaughtered, after adaptation period, so they were used as control for estimates of empty body weight and initial body composition of animals in the experiment. Out of the 24 remaining animals, four were sent to the maintenance group with restrict grazing time to limit energy intake close to the maintenance level. The other 20 animals were distributed in four treatments: mineral mixture, self-control intake and three-times-a-week-offer frequency (offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) and daily. Concentrations of all studied macro elements in empty body and empty body gain decreased as live weight increased. The ratios obtained for g Ca/100 g of retained protein and g P/100 g of retained protein were 9.18 and 4.72, respectively. Total dietary requirement of calcium was lower than the one recommended by NRC (2000), but P requirement was very close to that.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with nitrogenous compounds on intake and digestibility in cattle under grazing during dry season. It was used five Holstein × Zebu steers with average initial live weight of 236 kg, kept in five Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. paddocks (0.34 ha). The experiment was carried out according to a 5 × 5 Latin square design, with five supplementation levels and five experimental periods. The supplementation levels were the following: 0; 0.35; 0.70; 1.05, and 1.40 g of crude protein/kg live weight. A mixture of urea, ammonium sulfate and albumin (4.5:0.5:1.0, respectively) was used as nitrogen supplement. The average crude protein levels in the diet were 7.39; 8.92; 10.98; 12.55; and 13.62%, as dry matter basis, for the respective supplementation levels. Linear-response-plateau relationships were observed between intake estimates and diet crude protein levels. The linear-response-plateau pattern showed that intake was increased up to crude protein levels close to 9%, as dry matter basis. The estimates became unchangeable from this level. The total and ruminal digestibility coefficients of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber, and diet level of total digestible nutrients presented a positive linear pattern according to diet crude protein levels. The rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration was linearly increased by diet crude protein levels. This variable assumed the value of 8.00 mg/dL when the intake estimates reached the maximum values. Supplementation with nitrogen compounds in quantities that raise the crude protein content in the diet to levels close to 9% optimizes the use of low-quality forage by cattle under grazing.Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da suplementação com compostos nitrogenados sobre o consumo e a digestibilidade em bovinos em pastejo durante o período seco do ano. Foram utilizados cinco novilhos mestiços Holandês × Zebu, com peso vivo (PV) médio inicial de 236 kg, mantidos individualmente em piquetes de Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. (0,34 ha). Utilizou-se delineamento em quadrado latino 5 × 5, com cinco níveis de suplementação (0; 0,35; 0,75; 1,05; e 1,40 g de proteína bruta (PB)/kg PV) e cinco períodos experimentais. Como fonte de compostos nitrogenados empregou-se mistura de ureia, sulfato de amônia e albumina (4,5:0,5:1,0, respectivamente). Os níveis médios de PB nas dietas foram de 7,39; 8,92; 10,98; 12,55 e 13,62%, com base na matéria seca (MS), para os respectivos níveis de suplementação. Verificou-se relação do tipo linear-response-plateau (LRP) entre as estimativas de consumo e os níveis de PB da dieta. O comportamento do tipo LRP permitiu evidenciar aumento no consumo até níveis próximos a 9% de PB, com base na MS, a partir do qual houve estabilidade das estimativas. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade total e ruminal da MS e da fibra em detergente neutro e o nível de nutrientes digestíveis totais na dieta apresentaram relação linear e positiva com os níveis de PB na dieta. A concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal ruminal (NAR) aumentou de forma linear e positiva de acordo com os níveis de PB na dieta, com valor estimado de 8,00 mg NAR/dL, equivalente à otimização do consumo voluntário. A suplementação com compostos nitrogenados em quantidades que permitam elevar o teor de PB da dieta a níveis próximos a 9% proporciona otimização na utilização de forragem de baixa qualidade por bovinos em pastejo.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with nitrogenous compounds on intake, digestibility, and rumen microbial synthesis in cattle fed low-quality tropical forage. Five crossbred heifers, averaging 209 kg and fitted with ruminal fistulla, were used. The animals were fed ad libitum with signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) hay, which had crude protein (CP) content of 5.08%, as dry matter (DM) basis. The five treatments were defined according to the increasing level of CP in the diet (0, 3, 5, 7, and 9 percentile points above the forage CP level). The supplement consisted of the following nitrogen sources: urea, ammonium sulfate and albumin (4.5:0.5:1.0, respectively). The experiment was carried out according to a 5 × 5 Latin square design, with five experimental periods. The average CP levels in the diets were: 5.28, 8.08, 9.82, 11.87, and 13.63% on DM basis. The intakes of DM, organic matter (OM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) showed a quadratic response according to CP levels in the diet, with maximum responses at 10.83%, 10.78%, and 10.37% CP, respectively. The digestibility coefficients of OM and NDF showed a linear-response-plateau response according to CP levels, with the plateau beginning (maximum response) at 7.93% and 7.55% CP, respectively. The average daily concentration of rumen ammonia nitrogen (RAN) was positively related with CP levels. The RAN estimate associated with the maximum DM intake was 15.33 mg/dL. It was observed that intestinal flow of microbial nitrogenous compounds and nitrogen intake became equivalent to each other at 7.13% of CP.Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de compostos nitrogenados suplementares sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade e a síntese de proteína microbiana em bovinos alimentados com forragem tropical de baixa qualidade. Foram utilizadas cinco novilhas mestiças Holandês × Zebu, com peso vivo médio de 209 kg, fistuladas no rúmen. O volumoso consistiu de feno de capim-braquiária (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) (5,08% de proteína bruta (PB), com base na matéria seca), fornecido à vontade. Os cinco tratamentos avaliados foram definidos de acordo com o nível de suplementação proteica (0, 3, 5, 7 e 9 pontos percentuais acima do nível de PB da forragem). Como fonte de compostos nitrogenados, empregou-se mistura de ureia, sulfato de amônia e albumina, nas proporções de 4,5:0,5:1,0, respectivamente. O experimento constou de cinco períodos experimentais, segundo delineamento em quadrado latino 5 × 5. Os níveis médios de PB observados nas dietas foram de 5,28; 8,08; 9,82; 11,87 e 13,63%, com base na matéria seca (MS). Verificou-se efeito quadrático dos níveis de PB na dieta sobre os consumos de MS, matéria orgânica (MO) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) (kg/dia), com respostas máximas nos níveis de 10,83%, 10,78% e 10,37% de PB, respectivamente. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da MO e FDN apresentaram relação do tipo linear-response-plateau com os níveis de PB na dieta com início de platô (resposta máxima) em 7,93 e 7,55% de PB, respectivamente. A concentração média diária de nitrogênio amoniacal ruminal apresentou comportamento linear crescente em função dos níveis de PB da dieta, com valor estimado de 15,33 mg/dL, equivalente ao máximo consumo de MS. A avaliação da relação entre consumo de nitrogênio e fluxo intestinal de nitrogênio microbiano indica que as estimativas dessas variáveis tornam-se equivalentes no nível de 7,13% de PB na dieta.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with nitrogenous compounds on rumen dynamics of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in cattle fed low-quality tropical forage. Five crossbred heifers with average live weight of 180 kg and fitted with rumen cannulae were used. The animals were fed ad libitum with signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) hay, which had crude protein (CP) content of 4.86% of dry matter (DM). The five treatments were proposed in order to raise the CP level of diets to 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 percentile points above the CP level of the forage. The supplement was a mixture of urea, ammonium sulfate, and albumin (4.5:0.5:1.0, respectively). The experiment was carried out according to a 5 × 5 Latin square design, with five experimental periods. The average CP levels in the diets were: 5.19, 7.11, 8.60, 11.67, and 13.02% on DM basis. The potentially degradable NDF was linearly increased according to the CP levels in diet up to 6.97% of CP. From this point, there was stabilization of estimates (47.87% of NDF). The degradation rate of potentially degradable NDF was linearly increased with the CP levels in diets. The rumen flow of fibrous particles (L) showed a linear-response-plateau pattern according to the CP levels in diets. The plateau (maximum estimate) began on 7.24% of CP. The mean retention time in the rumen and the rumen fill effect of undegradable NDF were affect by the CP levels similarly to L, with plateau (minimum) beginning on 6.90 and 6.97% of CP, respectively.Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da suplementação com compostos nitrogenados sobre a dinâmica ruminal da fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) em bovinos alimentados com forragem tropical de baixa qualidade. Foram utilizadas cinco novilhas mestiças Holandês × Zebu, com peso vivo médio inicial de 180 kg, fistuladas no rúmen. A alimentação volumosa basal dos animais foi constituída por feno de capim-praquiátia (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) (4,86% de PB, com base na MS), fornecido à vontade. Os cinco tratamentos avaliados foram definidos de acordo com o nível de suplementação protéica (0, 2, 4, 6 e 8 pontos percentuais acima do nível de PB da forragem, utilizando-se como fonte de compostos nitrogenados mistura de uréia, sulfato de amônia e albumina, nas proporções de 4,5:0,5:1,0, respectivamente. O experimento foi constituído de cinco períodos experimentais, segundo delineamento em quadrado latino 5 × 5. Os níveis médios de PB nas dietas foram de 5,19; 7,19; 8,60; 11,67 e 13,02%, com base na MS. Verificou-se elevação linear da fração potencialmente degradável da FDN até o nível de 6,97% de PB, com platô estimado de 47,87% da FDN. A taxa de degradação da fração potencialmente degradável da FDN aumentou linearmente com os níveis de PB da dieta. O fluxo ruminal de partículas fibrosas apresentou relação linear-response-plateau, com estabelecimento do platô (máximo) em 7,24% de PB. O tempo médio de retenção no rúmen-retículo e a repleção ruminal da fração indegradável da FDN apresentaram comportamento semelhante ao fluxo ruminal de partículas fibrosas, com ponto crítico para o início do platô (mínimo) em 6,90 e 6,97% de PB, respectivamente.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with nitrogen and starch on the nutritional performance of grazing cattle during the rainy season. Five rumen cannulated Nellore steers, averaging 211 kg of body weight (BW), were used. Animals grazed on five signal grass paddocks. Five treatments were evaluated: control (forage only), ruminal supplementation with nitrogen at 1 g of crude protein (CP)/kg BW, ruminal supplementation with starch at 2.5 g/kg BW, supplementation with nitrogen (1 g CP/kg BW) and starch (2.5 g/kg BW), and supplementation with nitrogen (1 g CP/kg BW) and a mixture of corn starch and nitrogenous compounds (2.5 g/kg BW), thereby resulting in an energy part of the supplement with 150 g CP/kg of dry matter (DM). This last treatment was considered an additional treatment. The experiment was carried out according to a 5 ×5 Latin square design following a 2×2+1 factorial arrangement (with or without nitrogen, with or without starch, and the additional treatment). Nitrogen supplementation did not affect (p>0.10) forage intake. Starch supplementation increased (p0.10), NB obtained with nitrogen plus starch supplementation was greater than NB obtained with either nitrogen or starch exclusive supplementation. Supplementation with starch and nitrogen to beef cattle grazing during the rainy season can possibly improve digestion and nitrogen retention in the animal..

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of protein and/or starch supplementation on the nutritional performance of cattle grazing on low-quality tropical forage. Five crossbred steers (Holstein × Gyr) with an average body weight (BW) of 397 kg that were fitted with ruminal and abomasal cannulae were used. The animals were kept in individual signal-grass (Bracharia decumbens) paddocks. Five treatments were evaluated: 1 - control (without supplementation); 2 - supplementation with 1 g of crude protein (CP) per kg of BW; 3 - supplementation with 2.5 g of starch per kg of BW; 4 - supplementation with CP and starch as described for treatments 2 and 3; and 5 - supplementation as described for treatment 4 but replacing the corn starch with a mixture of corn starch and nitrogenous compounds, thereby resulting in an energy supplement of 150 g CP/kg of dry matter. The experiment was performed according to a 5 × 5 Latin square design in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement. The forage intake was not affected by any of the factors evaluated in this study. The production of microbial nitrogen in the rumen was not affected by nitrogen or starch supplementation. The apparent nitrogen balance was only increased when both starch and nitrogen were supplied. Supplementation with both starch and nitrogenous compounds for cattle grazing on low-quality tropical forage is characterized by an interactive metabolic effect that increases nitrogen accretion by the animals.