Does vitamin blends supplementation affect the animal performance, carcass traits, and nutrient digestibility of young Nellore finishing bulls?

• Published in: Animal bioscience Vol. 36; no. 12; pp. 1831 - 1841
• Main Authors: Andrade, Dhones Rodrigues de, Silva, Flávia Adriane de Sales, Pinheiro, Jardeson de Souza, da Silva, Júlia Travassos da, Trópia, Nathália Veloso, Godoi, Leticia Artuzo, Vilela, Rizielly Saraiva Reis, Cidrini, Fernando Alerrandro Andrade, Rennó, Luciana Navajas, Zanetti, Diego, Acedo, Tiago Sabella, Filho, Sebastião de Campos Valadares
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Animal Bioscience 01-12-2023; Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies; 아세아·태평양축산학회
• Subjects: b complex; cattle; tocopherol; vitamin supplementation; zebu; 축산학
• ISSN: 2765-0189; 2765-0235
• DOI: 10.5713/ab.23.0087

Objective: This study was realized to evaluate the effects of supplementation with blends of water and fat-soluble vitamins on animal performance and carcass traits of young Nellore bulls.Methods: Forty-three Nellore bulls, with an initial weight of 261±27.3 kg and a mean age of 8±1.0 months, were used. Five animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment (reference group), to determine the initial empty body weight of the bulls that remained in the experiment. The remaining 38 bulls were fed ad libitum and distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2×2 factorial scheme, with or without supplementation of water-soluble (B-blend+ or B-blend–) and fat-soluble (ADE+ or ADE–) vitamin blends. Diets were isonitrogenous (120 g of crude protein/kg dry matter [DM] of total mixed ration) and consisted of a roughage:concentrate rate of 30:70 based on total DM of diet. The experiment lasted 170 days, with 30 days of adaptation and 140 days for data collection. At the beginning and end of the experimental period, the bulls were weighed to determine the average daily gain. To estimate the apparent digestibility of nutrients and microbial efficiency, spot collections of feces and urine were performed for five consecutive days.Results: DM, ashes, organic matter, crude protein, ethereal extract, neutral detergent fiber corrected for residual ash and residual nitrogenous, and N intake and apparent digestibility were not influenced by vitamin supplementation, but total digestible nutrients intake and non-fibrous carbohydrates digestibility were influenced by B complex vitamin supplementation. Nitrogen balance, microbial efficiency, and performance data were not influenced (p>0.05) by vitamin supplementation.Conclusion: Vitamin supplementation (a blend of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins or their combinations) does not influence the animal performance and carcass traits of young Nellore bulls.