Mitochondrial function and residual feed intake in association with glycerin to Nellore cattle in feedlot.

Abstract

As in recent years, the price of concentrated ingredients used in cattle feed has increased to the point of interfering with the at sign production cost, understanding the genetic, cellular and biochemical mechanisms responsible for feed efficiency (EA) or residual feed intake (RFI) are important for the production of meat, especially when byproducts are used in place of corn. Although breeds and diets can affect mitochondrial function, no studies have investigated altercations in mitochondrial function due to differences in CAR phenotype of confined Nellore supplemented with glycerin. Therefore, the possibility arises that the ME in Nellore cattle occurs through mitochondrial function. Because of this assumption, the objective of this project is determine if a relationship between the concentration of mitochondrial protein (complex I and III) of Nellore cattle in feedlot in different phenotypes RFI supplemented with crude glycerin. The design will be completely randomized and the animal as the experimental unit. It will be used seventy uncastrated male Nellore cattle, with an average initial weight of ± 335 kg, which will remain in feedlot and fed for 84 days. The 14 cattle with higher RFI and 14 with lower RFI will be classified as high and low RFI groups, and in each group seven cattle will be fed with 0% and seven cattle will be fed with 20% crude glycerin until slaughter. Blood samples will be collected one week before slaughter for analysis. If this hypothesis have confirmed, will help to show that the glycerin, helps to provide animals with better ME, and the development of tools (biomarkers) to assist companies in improving efficient selection of animals that, in turn, help to maintain viable livestock in Brazil and around the world.