Authors : Sonia Arias, Angel Javier Freddi, Ana Maria Piazza, Martin Juan Arzadun and Pamela Yanina Giles
Abstract: An In vivo study was performed using 8 British-breed, eighth-month gestating (420±15 Kg of BW) beef cows to determine the effect of infrequent wheat pasture supplementation on In vivo Organic Matter (OM) and Nitrogen Detergent Fiber (NDF) digestibility and Nitrogen Retention (NR). Treatments consisted on anunsupplementedcontrol (Deferred sorghum, DS) and DS plus fresh wheat forage (DSW) offered three times per week. Cows were allotted in a completed randomized design for a period of 17 day. DS intake decreased (p<0.05) with CP supplementation, total OM Intake (OMI) was not different (p = 0.18) between treatments while NDF intake was greater (p<0.05) in DS than in DSW. Apparent total-tract OM Digestibility (OMD) was higher (p<0.05) in DSW than in DS and apparent total-tract NDF Digestibility (NDFD) did not differ among treatments. N intake was greater in supplemented than in control cows. Feces and urine N did not differ between treatments (p = 0.27) and NR was higher in DSW. NR expressed as percentage of N consumed was not different between treatments. These results suggest that wheat pasture (18.4% PC and 45.6% NDF) can be used as CP supplement for cows consuming low quality forage even if it is offered three times per week.
Sonia Arias, Angel Javier Freddi, Ana Maria Piazza, Martin Juan Arzadun and Pamela Yanina Giles, 2015. Effect of Infrequent Wheat Pasture Supplementation on In vivo DM and NDF Digestibility and Nitrogen Retention of Pregnant Beef Cows Consuming Deferred Sorghum. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 14: 351-356.