1. Impact of high-energy diets on the rumen environment and digital cushion in confined cattle
- Author
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Nicolas C. Tavares, Antônio A. Barbosa, Rogério F. Bermudes, Sandra M.E.F. Rechsteiner, Luis A.X. Cruz, Fabio Raphael P. Bruhn, Paula M. Silva, and Charles F. Martins
- Subjects
High-energy diets ,rumen environment ,digital cushion ,confined cattle ,acidosis ,hoof ,histology ,laminitis ,confinement ,Veterinary medicine ,SF600-1100 - Abstract
ABSTRACT: This study aimed to identify gross and microscopic changes, caused by high-energy diets, in the rumen environment and hoof of confined beef cattle. The study sample comprised 40 confined heifers (Bos taurus) with no disease history divided into four experimental groups using different diets: Group 1 (D1, control), 48:52 forage:concentrate ratio; Group 2 (D2), 30:70 forage:concentrate ratio; Group 3 (D3), 30:70 forage:concentrate ratio + sucrose; Group 4 (D4), 100% concentrate. All animals underwent clinical examination, assessment of ruminal fluid pH and lameness, and sample collection after slaughter for histopathology of the hoof laminae and digital cushion and ruminal tissue. All dependent variables of the study were compared using the SPSS 20.0 statistical software. The variables that did not show normality (HR, RM, ST, and CRT) were compared with application of the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Dunnet’s multiple comparison test. All other variables were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test. The different diets had an impact on the rumen environment (p
- Published
- 2020
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