Gabriel Ribeiro

University of Saskatchewan | U of S · Department of Animal and Poultry Science

The objective of the study was to compare forage yield and composition, dry matter intake (DMI), growth, and enteric methane emissions for heifers grazing a barley monoculture (MON) or a barley-based complex forage blend (COM). The 2-year study was conducted near Saint Brieux (SK, Canada) and evaluated 2 treatments with 4 paddocksּ treatment-1ּ yr-...

Inclusion of crop residues and byproducts in beef cattle diets has become a significant practice in beef cattle production as producers are faced with conventional feed shortages, increased prices, and disrupted supply chains. Wheat straw is a widely available crop byproduct in the western Canadian prairies whose inclusion in beef cattle diets has...

This study evaluated beef heifers selected for high (efficient) or low (inefficient) digestible fiber intake (DFI). Initial analysis showed that high DFI animals had reduced methane production versus low-DFI under a high forage diet. Using the same cohort of animals maintained on a further 4 diets of varying forage:concentrate ratios, we employed m...

According to the Saskatchewan Bison Association, in the last few years producers have not been able to fill the increasing demand for bison meat. Indeed, one of the main challenges faced by the bison industry is their ability to produce a consistent product in a relatively short period of time. Hence, it is necessary to optimize the productivity an...

The objective of this study was to evaluate acid detergent lignin (ADL), and amylase-treated ash-corrected undigestible neutral detergent fiber after 240 h of ruminal in vitro incubation (uNDF), and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) scanning of feces as methods to estimate the digestibility of diets varying in forage quantity and quality when fed t...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the factors which influence intake and fiber digestion efficiency of beef cattle previously selected for high or low digestible neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake (DFI; g/kg BW0.75). Angus × Hereford cross heifers [n = 16; initial body weight (BW) = 584 ± 32.2 kg] previously classified as either high or...

Yearling bison bulls [n = 48; commercial Wood × Plains, 435 ± 13.4 kg body weight (BW)] were used in a 156-d feeding trial to evaluate the effects of the starch content in the concentrate on growth performance, gain-to-feed ratio (GF), temperament, and carcass traits. Bison were homogenously distributed into 12 pens (4 bulls/pen) based on BW, and e...

Polycrop mixtures are of increasing interest to western Canadian beef producers as alternative forages for grazing as they may promote plant biodiversity and nutritive value. This 2-yr study evaluated the effects of swath grazing either simple or complex polycrop mixtures on forage yield and quality, beef cow performance, and methane emissions. For...

The objective of these studies was to evaluate effects of increasing hybrid rye silage (HRS; harvested at boot stage in Study 1 and soft-dough in Study 2) inclusion as a replacement for barley silage (BS; harvested at soft-dough stage) on dry matter intake (DMI), ruminal fermentation, and growth performance of growing beef cattle. In Study 1, rumin...

This study was designed to assess the impacts of a mixture of deoxynivalenol (DON) and ergot alkaloids (EAs) on growth performance, rumen function, blood parameters, and carcass traits of feedlot cattle. Forty steers (450 ± 6.0 kg) were stratified by weight and randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatments; control-low (CON-L), control-high (CON-H) which...

This study evaluated the effect of feeding ergot contaminated grain continuously or intermittently through backgrounding (BG) and finishing (FN) in a mash or pelleted supplement on the growth performance, health and welfare parameters, and carcass characteristics of feedlot beef steers. Sixty black Angus steers (300 ± 29.4 kg BW) were used in a com...

In the Northern Great Plains, cattle may be exposed to water with an elevated sulfate concentration resulting in ruminal hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production and risk of copper deficiency. There are currently few strategies available to help mitigate effects arising from high-sulfate water (HS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects...

In Canada, new forage varieties need not undergo grazing trials before registration and sale. To evaluate the effect of grazing, six cool-season species including meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehmann), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifoila Scop.), and three alfalfa varieties (Medicago sativa L.) were establishe...

Enhancing crop residue digestibility can boost the available energy for growth and milk yield and improve the sustainability of ruminant production systems. As the natural diet of bison is high in lignocellulose, bison have developed a microbiome that efficiently digests cellulose and hemicellulose. This study compared the rumen metatranscriptomes...

This study evaluated the effects of (i) increasing the concentration of sulfate in drinking water on dry matter intake (DMI), water intake, ruminal fermentation, and apparent total-tract digestibility, and (ii) water sulfate concentration and bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) dose on in vitro ruminal fermentation. Eight ruminally cannulated beef heifers...

Cattle consuming increased concentrations of sulfur (S) are at an increased risk for depletion of copper (Cu) and or S-induced polioencephalomalacia and there are limited mitigation strategies to alleviate risk for cattle consuming high sulfate water. This study evaluated the effects of feeding growing beef heifers bismuth subsalicylate (BSS; 0.0 v...

This study evaluated the effects of providing inorganic, chelated, and inorganic plus injectable trace mineral supplementation strategies with or without the inclusion of bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) on dry matter intake (DMI), water intake, ruminal hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentration, and trace mineral status of growing beef heifers provided high...

This study evaluated the effect of feeding pelleted or mash ergot contaminated grain fed continuously or intermittently on the growth performance, blood serum variables, and carcass quality of finishing beef steers. Sixty black angus steers (442 ± 36.7 kg) were used in a complete randomized finishing (90% concentrate:10% barley silage DM basis) 126...

This study evaluated beef heifers selected for high or low digestible fiber intake (DFI) and investigated its relationship with methane production, residual feed intake (RFI), and total tract digestibility. Sixteen recently weaned black Angus beef heifers (n = 8/treatment) were selected from a group 64 heifers (224 ± 17.2 kg) fed a high forage-base...

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of feeding increasing dietary concentrations of ergot alkaloids from cereal grains (EA; 0, 0.75, 1.5, 3.0 mg/kg of dietary DM) to feedlot cattle over backgrounding (BG) and finishing (FS) phases on health, welfare, and growth performance. Two hundred and forty commercial steers (280 ± 32 kg BW) were s...

Beef cows (n = 100) were ranked for efficiency based on cow rump fat thickness at calving, calving date, and calf weaning weight (% dam BW) over 2 years. The nine most (ME) and least efficient (LE) cows were used to compare feed intake and ruminal fermentation using four 26-day periods with decreasing dietary nutrient density. There were no phenoty...

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of substituting barley grain with short-season, high-moisture shelled corn, and barley grain and barley silage with snaplage on ruminal fermentation and the site and extent of digestion in beef cattle fed finishing diets. Six ruminally and duodenally cannulated heifers (420 ± 16.4 kg body wei...

This study assessed the impact of dry- (DR) versus temper-rolled (TR) and low- (13%, LP) versus high-protein (18%, HP) wheat on ruminal fermentation, growth, and liver abscesses in feedlot cattle. Crossbred Angus steers (302 ± 34 kg; n = 160; 24 ruminally cannulated) were used in a backgrounding (BG) to finishing (FN) trial. The BG diet consisted o...

The objective of this study was to develop near infrared-spectroscopy (NIRS) calibrations to predict fecal nutrient composition, intake, and diet digestibility from beef cattle fed high forage diets. Heifers were fed 12 different forage-based diets (> 95% forage dry matter basis) in 3 total collection digestibility studies, resulting in individual...

Greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) emissions, land and water use associated with feedlot cattle (n = 40 hd treatment⁻¹ trial⁻¹) treated with or without productivity-enhancing technologies were modelled for a multiyear study (n = 4). Heifers (H) were assigned to the following treatments: (1) implanted (HTBA); (2) provided with melengestrol aceta...

The effects of perennial and annual forage systems on forage biomass and quality, grazing animal performance, and enteric methane emissions were evaluated over two summer grazing seasons in 2020 and 2021. Forage systems (treatments) included (1) AC Success hybrid bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm. × Bromus inermis Leyss.) + PS30006 alfalfa (Medicago...

A near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration was previously developed to predict fecal composition using samples from beef heifers fed high forage diets ( > 95% forage dry matter basis) during total collection digestibility studies. The objective of the current study was to expand the fecal composition calibration with samples from grazing beef...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding pelleted or mash ergot contaminated grain continuously or intermittently on performance and blood parameters of backgrounding steers. Sixty black angus steers (300 ± 29.4 kg) were used in a complete randomized backgrounding (60% barley silage:40% concentrate DM basis) 84 d study. Ste...

Objectives of this study were to determine the potential of near infrared-spectroscopy (NIRS) scanning of feces to predict diet digestibility and intake in beef cattle fed high forage diets, and to investigate the use of acid detergent lignin (ADL) and undigestible neutral detergent fiber (uNDF) as internal markers to determine digestibility. Beef...

This study evaluated in vivo effects of increasing sulfate concentrations of drinking water on dry matter intake (DMI), water intake, ruminal fermentation, and apparent total-tract digestibility, and in vitro effects of water sulfate and bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) dose. Eight ruminal-cannulated beef heifers (382 ± 45 kg) were stratified into two c...

This study evaluated beef cows identified as having high or low efficiency when managed in extensive systems and whether they differ in terms of digestive physiology. Nine high (HE) and low efficiency (LE) cows were selected from a group of 86 Angus cows using 2 years of selection data. Yearly ranks were assessed based on three weighted criteria: c...

This study evaluated the effects of feeding ergot alkaloids (EA) at increasing levels (0, 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 ppm) to feedlot beef cattle over backgrounding (BG) and finishing (FS) phases on growth performance and carcass quality. Steers (n=240; 280±32 kg) were blocked by weight and randomly allocated to 16 pens (4 pens/treatment; 15 steers/pen). Tr...

This study evaluated different strategies of forage inclusion for finishing beef cattle and their impact on performance, carcass quality, and liver abscesses. Steers (n=360, 400±29 kg) were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to one of four treatments (15 steers/pen, 6 pens/treatment) in a complete randomized experiment. Treatments were: 1) pos...

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of low (13%, LP) or high protein (18%, HP) wheat grain subjected to dry (DR) vs temper rolling (TR) on growth performance, rumen parameters, and liver abscesses of feedlot steers. A backgrounding (BG) to finishing (FN) feedlot trial was performed using 160 302 ± 34 kg; 24 ruminally cannulated) An...

This study compared the nutrient composition, in vitro methane production, and dry matter (DM) and fiber disappearance of barley greenfeed (seed heads, SEED; leaves, BLEAF; and stems, STEM) and short-season high-moisture corn stover (cobs, COB; leaves and husks, CLEAF; and stalks, STALK) to wheat straw (STRAW). Each plant component was analyzed for...

As the contamination of cereal grains with ergot has been increasing in Western Canada, studies were undertaken to evaluate the impacts of heating (60, 80, 120, or 190 °C) alone or in combination with pelleting on concentrations of ergot alkaloids. Fifteen samples of ergot-contaminated grain from Alberta and Saskatchewan were assayed for R and S ep...

Barley greenfeed compontents have greater overall DM disappearance, and aNDFom in leaves from both barley greenfeed and high-moisture corn stover are highly digestible compared to other components. Methane production was greatest for corn stover cobs and least for leaves and corn stalks.

The rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) was used to investigate the effect of ergot alkaloids (EA) and a mycotoxin deactivating product (Biomin AA; MDP) on nutrient digestion, ruminal fermentation parameters, total gas, methane, and microbial nitrogen production. Ruminal fermentation vessels received a feedlot finishing diet of 90:10 concentrate:b...

High-moisture shelled corn can partially replace barley grain, and snaplage an completely replace barley silage and some grain in finishing cattle diets without impacting total tract starch digestibility or ruminal fermentation patterns

Short-season, high moisture corn products, high-moisture shelled corn and snaplage, can replace barley grain and/or barley silage in western Canadian feedlot diets without adverse affects to digestibility, site of digestion, or ruminal fermentation.

This study evaluated the effects of seven biochar products at two levels of inclusion [2.25% or 4.50% diet dry matter (DM)] on DM disappearance (DMD), cumulative gas and methane (CH4) production, ammonia-nitrogen, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production from Timothy grass hay over 48 h of incubation. Biochar did not affect gas and CH4 production (...

This study evaluated the effects of biochar differing in source, inclusion level, and particle size on dry matter disappearance (DMD), total gas and methane (CH4) production, and ruminal fermentation in a barley silage-based diet. The seven biochar products used were coconut (CP001 and CP014) or pine (CP002, CP015, CP016, CP023, CP024)-based. Exper...

Biochar in ruminant diets is being assessed as a method for simultaneously improving animal production and reducing enteric CH4 emissions, but little is known about subsequent biochar-manure interactions post-excretion. We examined chemical properties, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and organic matter (OM) composition during farm scale stockpiling...

A rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) investigated effects of ergot alkaloids (E) and a mycotoxin deactivating product (Biomin® AA; B) on nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation, total gas and methane emissions. Fermenters received a finishing diet of 90:10 concentrate:barley silage. Using a randomized complete block design, treatments were assigne...

This study investigated the effects of three pine-based biochar products on nutrient disappearance, total gas and methane (CH4) production, rumen fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, and rumen microbiota in a rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) fed a barley-silage-based total mixed ration (TMR). Treatments consisted of 10 g TMR supplemented...

The effect of trenbolone acetate + estradiol (TBA) implants, melengestrol acetate (MGA), and ractopamine hydrochloride + TBA (RAC + TBA) on growth performance and carcass characteristics in beef cattle (n = 680; 279 ± 10.1 kg) fed barley grain/corn silage was examined in a 4 yr study (four pens per treatment per year; 262 ± 8 d feeding period). In...

Integrating biochar into cattle diets has recently emerged as a potential management practice for improving on-farm productivity. Yet, information concerning the cycling of biochar-manure mixtures is scarce. A 70-d incubation experiment was conducted within two surface (0-15 cm) Mollisols with contrasting textures, i.e., sandy clay loam (Raymond) a...

Effect of calcium oxide (CaO) treatment of barley straw and salt on rumen fermentation, microbiota, digestibility, growth, and carcass quality of cattle was assessed. A replicated 4 × 4 Latin square metabolism experiment was conducted using eight heifers fed a wheat finishing diet with barley silage (B-SIL), barley straw (B-S), or 5.0% CaO-treated...

This study investigated the effects of including biochars, which differed in post-pyrolysis treatment, on nutrient disappearance, total gas and methane (CH4) emissions, rumen fermentation, microbial protein synthesis and rumen microbiota in an artificial rumen system (RUSITEC) fed a barley silage-based diet. The basal diet contained (g/kg dry matte...

This study evaluated the effect of trenbolone acetate + estradiol implants (TBA), melengestrol acetate (MGA), and ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) on the performance of beef cattle fed barley grain/corn silage diets. Beef cattle (279 ± 10.1 kg) were used in a complete randomized 4-yr study (yr 1, 2, n = 120 heifers and 80 steers; yr 3, 4, n = 120 he...

In Canada, new forage varieties need not undergo grazing trials before registration and sale. As such, little is known about forage performance under grazing, or how animal preference and temperament affect grazing behaviour. To determine these effects, 6 cool-season forage species including meadow bromegrass (Bromus bieberseinii), orchardgrass (Da...

This study investigated the effects of post-pyrolysis treated biochar on nutrient disappearance, total gas and methane (CH4) production, rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in an artificial rumen system (RUSITEC) fed a barley silage-based diet. The basal diet consisted of 60% barley silage, 27% barley grain, 10% canola meal and 3% mi...

This study evaluated the impact of adding biochar to a grass hay-based diet on in vitro dry matter disappearance (DMD), total gas production (GP), methane production (CH4), volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration. Treatments were arranged in a factorial design with 7 biochar products differing in origin (pine or coconut...

Greenhouse gas emissions from backgrounding and finishing cattle with and without the use of growth-enhancing technologies (GET) were estimated using a whole-farm model, Holos (www.agr.gc.ca/holos-ghg). Model inputs were obtained from a four-year performance study using heifers (H) and steers (S) with six treatments (n = 40 hd treatment-1 yr-1): 1)...

Objective Two experiments were conducted to evaluate conventional (tylosin, monensin, steroidal hormone growth implants, and β-adrenergic agonist) and nonconventional [direct-fed microbial (DFM), fibrolytic enzyme (ENZ), and flavoring agent (OLEO)] growth-enhancing technologies on the performance of finishing beef feedlot steers. Materials and Met...

Forages are a major source of nutrients for herbivores around the world. Sometimes the balance of nutrients or presence of secondary compounds in the forage can have negative effects on health of herbivores. This chapter presents some of these forage‐induced animal disorders, including pasture bloat, milk fever, grass tetany or hypomagnesemia, lami...

This study examines the colonization of barley straw (BS) and corn stover (CS) by rumen bacteria and how this is impacted by ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) pre-treatment. Four ruminally cannulated beef heifers were used to investigate in situ microbial colonization in a factorial design with 2 crop residues, pre-treated with or without AFEX. Crop r...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX)-treated wheat straw pellets and a recombinant fibrolytic enzyme on the rumen microbiome, rumen fermentation parameters, total tract diet digestibility, and performance of lambs. Eight rumen cannulated wethers and 60 lambs (n = 15 per diet, 8 rams and 7 ewes) we...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of AFEX treatment (ARS) of rice straw (RS) on the in situ degradability, microbial colonization, growth performance and acetamide levels in ewe lambs. Alfalfa, rice straw and AFEX-treated rice straw were incubated in nylon bags in the rumen for 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 120 h to determ...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of enhanced biochar (EB) on growth performance, carcass quality, and feeding behavior of feedlot steers fed high-forage and high-grain diets. A total of 160 crossbred steers (initial 286 ± 26 kg BW) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to 16 pens (10 steers/pen), 8 of which were equipped wi...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a recombinant fibrolytic enzyme (RFE; xylanase XYL10C) on ruminal pH and fermentation characteristics, total tract digestibility and nitrogen balance in beef heifers. The experiment was a cross-over design with two treatments and two periods, using eight ruminal cannulated beef heifers....

This study investigated the effects of engineered biocarbon on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, total gas and methane (CH4) emissions, and microbial protein synthesis in a rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) fed a barley silage-based TMR. The basal diet consisted of 60% barley silage, 27% barley grain, 10% canola meal and 3% minerals. T...

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of engineered biocarbon (EB) on rumen fermentation, apparent total tract digestibility, methane (CH4) emissions and the rumen and fecal microbiome of Angus × Hereford heifers fed a barley silage-based diet. The experiment was a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square using 8 ruminally cannulated heifers (...

This in vitro study assessed the effects of three pine-based engineered biocarbons (CP002, CP016, CP023) that differed in particle size (< 0.5, 0.5–2.0, < 2.0 mm) at two inclusion levels (0.25 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml) on total gas and CH4 production as well as rumen fermentation parameters when added to a barley silage-based total mixed ration diet. Bi...

This in vitro study evaluated seven different engineered biocarbon products supplied at three levels (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mg/ml inoculum) to determine their effects on total gas, methane production, and fermentation parameters when added to a barley silage-based diet. The biocarbon sources were derived from either coconut (CP001 and CP014) or pine (CP...

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a pine enhanced biochar (EB) on rumen fermentation, apparent total tract digestibility, methane (CH4) emissions, and the rumen and fecal microbiome of Angus × Hereford heifers fed a barley silage-based diet. The experiment was a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square using 8 ruminally cannulated heife...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX) treated wheat straw pellets and a specifically selected recombinant fibrolytic enzyme on the feed digestion and performance of lambs. Eight wethers and 60 lambs (n=15/diet, 8 rams and 7 ewes) were used in a replicated 4×4 Latin square design digestibility study...

Low digestibility of crop residues limits their use as animal feeds. The study examined the potential of Ammonia Fibre Expansion (AFEX) technology and dietary supplementation of a preselected recombinant xylanase to improve the in situ degradability of four crop residues for ruminants. AFEX pretreatment uses anhydrous ammonia, moisture, moderate te...

Low digestibility of crop residues limits their use as animal feeds. The study examined the potential of Ammonia Fibre Expansion (AFEX) technology and dietary supplementation of a pre-selected recombinant xylanase to improve the in situ degradability of four crop residues for ruminants. AFEX pretreatment uses anhydrous ammonia, moisture, moderate t...