Interaction of Flint Corn Grain Processing and Urea Source, and the Inclusion of Calcareous Marine Algae in Finishing Diets for Nellore Cattle: Effects on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Nutritional Characteristics
beef cattle, clean production, feedlot, methane, nitrogen, sodium bicarbonate
The objective of this project is: i) to evaluate the impacts of flint corn processing methods – dry ground corn (DGC; 1.77 mm) and reconstituted corn grain silage (REC; 2.15 mm) – and urea source – feed-grade urea (U) and CU – on feedlot growth performance, carcass traits, diet energy content, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and nitrogen metabolism in finishing Nellore bulls; and 2) to evaluate the effects of calcareous marine algae on the mitigation of greenhouse gases, digestibility, and performance of Nellore heifers in the finishing phase.