Effect of pregnancy and feeding level on voluntary intake, digestion, and microbial nitrogen synthesis in Zebu beef cows.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research was to evaluate how pregnancy and feeding regimens affect the feed intake, digestibility, and efficiency of microbial nitrogen (N) synthesis in beef cows. Forty-four multiparous Nellore cows, comprising 32 gestating and 12 non-gestating cows, with an average weight of 451 ± 10 kg, were assigned to either a HIGH (ad libitum) or LOW (limited feeding at 1.2 times maintenance based on the NRC) feeding regimen during the gestational period. The dry matter intake (DMI) in kg/d was significantly greater (P < 0.01) in HIGH-fed cows. The DMI reduced (P < 0.05) in proportion to the shrunk body weight (SBW) as days of pregnancy (DOP) increased. The interaction between feeding level and DOP was significant (P < 0.05) for the digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), N compounds, ether extract (EE), ash- and protein-free neutral detergent fiber (NDFap), gross energy (GE), and total digestible nutrients (TDN). Except for DM and TDN digestibility, there was a reduced nutrient digestibility as gestation progressed in HIGH-fed cows. In contrast, digestibility increased as a function of DOP in LOW-fed cows. Microbial N synthesis (g/day) was significantly higher in HIGH-fed cows (P < 0.001) compared to LOW-fed cows. The efficiency of microbial N production per g of N intake and kg of digestible OM intake was (P = 0.021) and tended (P = 0.051) to be greater in LOW-fed cows compared to HIGH-fed cows. In summary, HIGH-fed Nellore cows reduce feed intake and digestibility with advancing gestation, affecting feed utilization. In addition, LOW-fed cows, showed higher microbial protein synthesis efficiency, potentially making them more nutrient-efficient under challenging nutritional conditions.