Predicting ruminal degradability and chemical composition of corn silage using near-infrared spectroscopy and multivariate regression.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate regression models to predict the chemical composition and ruminal degradation parameters of corn silage by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR). Ninety-four samples were used to develop and validate the models to predict corn silage composition. A subset of 23 samples was used to develop and validate models to predict ruminal degradation parameters of corn silage. Wet chemistry methods were used to determine the composition values and ruminal degradation parameters of the corn silage samples. The dried and ground samples had their NIR spectra scanned using a poliSPECNIR 900-1700 model NIR sprectrophotometer (ITPhotonics S.r.l, Breganze, IT.). The models were developed using regression by partial least squares (PLS), and the ordered predictor selection (OPS) method was used. In general, the regression models obtained to predict the corn silage composition (P>0.05), except the model for organic matter (OM), adequately estimated the studied properties. It was not possible to develop prediction models for the potentially degradable fraction in the rumen of OM and crude protein and the degradation rate of OM. The regression models that could be obtained to predict the ruminal degradation parameters showed correlation coefficient of calibration between 0.530 and 0.985. The regression models developed to predict CS composition accurately estimated the CS composition, except the model for OM. The NIR has potential to be used by nutritionists as a rapid prediction tool for ruminal degradation parameters in the field.

Macrominerals and Trace Element Requirements for Beef Cattle.

Eighty-seven Nellore animals were utilized in this study to estimate net requirements for the maintenance and growth of beef cattle as well as the retention coefficients of 13 minerals: macrominerals (Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, and S) and trace elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn, Co, and Cr). The net requirements for maintenance and the true retention coefficient were estimated by using the regression between apparent retention and intake for each mineral. The net requirement for maintenance (µg/kg BW) and retention coefficients (%) were 163 and 85 for Cu, 2,097 and 53 for Fe, 32.3 and 24 for Mn, 3.72 and 48 for Se, 669 and 0.80 for Zn, 18.4 and 86 for Co, and 22.9 and 78 for Cr. The dietary requirements of macrominerals (g/kg DMI) were 5.12 for Ca, 2.38 for P, 0.96 for Mg, 2.40 for K, 0.79 for Na, and 1.47 for S. This is the first study using Nellore cattle to estimate mineral requirements; considering that Nellore cattle are the most common breed in Brazil and that Brazil is a major beef producer globally, this knowledge can help producers to improve animal performance by supplying the correct amount of minerals.

Nellore cows and their calves during the lactation period: performance, intake, milk composition, and total apparent digestibility.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate intake and nutrient digestibility, performance, milk composition, and microbial efficiency of Nellore cows and their calves during lactation. Fifteen Nellore cows were fed corn silage and concentrate (85:15). After calving, calves were kept with their dams for 2 months then separated and housed in individual pens adjacent to their dams. Cows were milked every 15 days over 7 months to estimate milk intake of the calves. During lactation, nutrient intake decreased (P < 0.01) for cows, while nutrient digestibility increased (P < 0.001). Starting 2 months post-calving, calves were offered concentrate (5 g/kg body weight (BW)) and roughage. An increase in DM digestibility was observed for calves in the third month of age, probably due to an associative effect between milk, concentrate, and roughage, which increased DM digestibility without increasing DM intake. Average daily gain (ADG) of the calves increased (P < 0.001) during lactation period. Microbial efficiency (g mCP/kg total digestible nutrients (TDN)) did not change (P > 0.05) in either cows or their calves during lactation period. However, nutrient digestibility decreased for calves during this period. Nellore cows produced milk with average of 4.58 % lactose, 5.61 % fat, and with milk protein increasing from 3.6 to 4.0 % as lactation progressed.