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Growth performance and carcass traits of steers finished on three different systems including legume–grass pasture and grain diets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2018

A. P. B. Fruet ,
F. S. Stefanello ,
F. Trombetta ,
A. N. M. De Souza ,
A. G. Rosado Júnior ,
C. J. Tonetto ,
J. L. C. Flores ,
R. B. Scheibler ,
R. M. Bianchi  and
P. S. Pacheco
...Show all authors
A. P. B. Fruet
Affiliation:
Department of Science and Food Technology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Av., Santa Maria, RS 97105900, Brazil
F. S. Stefanello
Affiliation:
Department of Science and Food Technology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Av., Santa Maria, RS 97105900, Brazil
F. Trombetta
Affiliation:
Department of Science and Food Technology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Av., Santa Maria, RS 97105900, Brazil
A. N. M. De Souza
Affiliation:
UFSM School Polytechnic, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Av., Santa Maria, RS 97105900, Brazil
A. G. Rosado Júnior
Affiliation:
Farroupilha Federal Institute São Vicente do Sul, s/n 20 de Setembro St., São Vicente do Sul, RS 97420000, Brazil
C. J. Tonetto
Affiliation:
Farroupilha Federal Institute São Vicente do Sul, s/n 20 de Setembro St., São Vicente do Sul, RS 97420000, Brazil
J. L. C. Flores
Affiliation:
Farroupilha Federal Institute São Vicente do Sul, s/n 20 de Setembro St., São Vicente do Sul, RS 97420000, Brazil
R. B. Scheibler
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão, s/n University Campus, Capão do Leão, RS 96160000, Brazil
R. M. Bianchi
Affiliation:
Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Av., Santa Maria, RS 97105900, Brazil
P. S. Pacheco
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Av., Santa Maria, RS 97105900, Brazil
A. De Mello*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia St. mail stop 202, Reno, NV 89557, USA
J. L. Nörnberg
Affiliation:
Department of Science and Food Technology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Av., Santa Maria, RS 97105900, Brazil
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Inclusion of legume in grass pastures optimizes protein values of the forage and promotes improved digestibility. Therefore, we hypothesized that finishing steers on a novel combination of legumes and grass pasture would produce carcasses with acceptable traits when compared to carcasses from steers finished in feedlot systems. In this study, we evaluated the effects of finishing steers on three systems including: grazing legume–grass pasture containing oats, ryegrass, white and red clover (PAST), grazing PAST plus supplementation with whole corn grain (14 g/kg BW (SUPP)), and on a feedlot-confined system with concentrate only (28 g/kg BW, consisting of 850 g/kg of whole corn grain and 150 g/kg of protein–mineral–vitamin supplement (GRAIN)) on growth performance of steers, carcass traits and digestive disorders. Eighteen steers were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments and finished for 91 days. Data regarding pasture and growth performance were collected during three different periods (0 to 28, 29 to 56 and 57 to 91 days). Subsequently, steers were harvested to evaluate carcass traits, presence of rumenitis, abomasitis and liver abscesses. The legume–grass pasture provided more than 19% dry matter of protein. In addition, pasture of paddocks where steers were assigned to SUPP and PAST treatments showed similar nutritional quality. When compared to PAST, finishing on SUPP increased total weight gain per hectare, stocking rate, daily and total weight gains. The increase of weight gain was high to GRAIN than SUPP and PAST. Steers finished on GRAIN had high hot carcass weight, fat thickness and marbling score when compared to PAST. However, these attributes did not differ between GRAIN and SUPP. Abomasum lesions were more prevalent in steers finished on GRAIN when compared to PAST. Results of this research showed that it is possible to produce carcasses with desirable market weight and fat thickness by finishing steers on legume–grass pasture containing oats, ryegrass, white and red clover. Moreover, supplementing steers with corn when grazing on legume–grass pasture produced similar carcass traits when compared to beef fed corn only.

Keywords

cloveroatsryegrasssupplementationconcentrate
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 13 , Issue 7 , July 2019 , pp. 1552 - 1562
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2018 

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