Effects of heat stress and rumen-protected fat supplementation on growth performance, rumen characteristics, and blood parameters in growing Korean cattle steers

Abstract

Objective This study was performed to evaluate whether hot temperature and rumen-protected fat (RPF) supplementation affect growth performance, rumen characteristics, and serum metabolites in growing stage of Korean cattle steers. Methods Twenty Korean cattle steers (230.4±4.09 kg of body weight [BW], 10.7±0.09 months of age) were divided into a conventional control diet group (n = 10) and a 0.8% RPF supplementation group (n = 10). Steers were fed 1.5% BW of a concentrate diet and 4 kg of tall fescue hay for 16 weeks (July 10 to August 6 [P1], August 7 to September 3 [P2], September 4 to October 1 [P3], October 2 to 30 [P4], of 2015). Results The mean temperature-humidity index (THI) was higher (p0.05) average daily gain and gain to feed ratio. Month and RPF supplementation affected concentrations of glucose, albumin, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL); those of albumin and glucose tended to decrease (p0.05) ruminal pH, NH3-N, and volatile fatty acid concentrations, whereas the C2:C3 ratio was affected (p<0.05) by month. Conclusion Korean cattle may not have been significantly affected by alert HS during the growing stage. Growth performance was higher during hotter months, although some changes in blood metabolites were observed. The RPF supplementation affected some blood lipids and carbohydrate metabolites but did not affect growth performance.

Keywords

• Ambient Temperature
• Beef Cattle
• Blood Metabolites
• Growth
• Heat Stress
• Rumen-protected Fat